Cancer-causing chemicals found near former RAF Upper Heyford

A former airbase earmarked for a major housing development is under scrutiny due to high levels of per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) ‘forever chemicals’.

These chemicals, which do not breakdown in the environment, accumulate in the body and are linked to cancers, thyroid disease and fertility problems.

A A national-scale preliminary overview study, published in Chemosphere, shows elevated levels in the surface water at the Leys Farm Ditch test site, a tributary of Gallos Brook which is around 4km away from RAF Upper Heyford.

The total PFAS concentrations in surface water reached up to 2,021 nanograms per litre.

Key compounds found at the site include PFOA, a Category 1 carcinogen, PFOS, PFHxS and fluorotelomer sulfonates, which are commonly associated with fire-fighting foams, which would have been used there when the site was operational from 1918 to 1994.

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Despite this, development on the former site is already underway, with 1,200 of a proposed 13,000 homes built over the past 15 years as part of a £5 billion project led by Dorchester Living.

While housing plans have since been reduced, with 9,000 of the homes removed from the government’s new towns scheme, these could still be built if approved by the local planning authority.

A strategic environmental assessment carried out by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government about the former New Town raised concerns about the proposals.

In it, the Environment Agency suggested the need to remediate contaminated land, where appropriate. Especially, where New Towns are proposed on former airfields where PFAS and other emerging contaminants are likely to be present.

Paul Silver, CEO of Dorchester Living, said: “The brownfield regeneration site has already had extensive remediation works completed including digging over 70 boreholes on site and testing contamination in ground water, and soils using a methodology agreed with the Environment agency and Cherwell District Council.

“As with many airfields, the historic use of the site means that there is potential for legacy contamination.

“This is not unique to Heyford Park and has already been identified in the site’s environmental assessments and Ground Conditions studies.

“These reports confirm that further targeted investigation is appropriate in specific areas. This is standard practice for the regeneration of brownfield sites.

“The regeneration of Heyford Park, through a controlled and regulated planning process, offers far greater environmental protection than leaving the land unmanaged or undeveloped.”

As part of the Government’s first ever PFAS plan, published earlier in February, it plans to develop new technical guidance for dealing with contamination under the planning regime.