A CONTROVERSIAL new housing scheme could take place near tar pits.
The Cinderhill site in Denby is the proposed place for development by Fisher German.
Up to 170 houses could be built on the site, which has long been earmarked for development.
The land is owned by Locko Park Estates.
The site has met with controversy in the past due to its closeness to tar pits.
The most recent approved planning application on the land, for 300 homes and 30 hectares of employment land, was later quashed by the High Court.
The decision followed a legal challenge.
Jonathan Hunt, who lives in the area, sent a sample of the soil and water at the pits to Greenpeace in 2006.
The results indicated high levels of chemicals and, according to Dr Kevin Brigden at Greenpeace, raised "cause for concern".
Mr Hunt said he had made these results public only recently because of the potential development of the site.
He claimed: "There is a definite need to conduct a full site investigation to find out where the contamination has spread to before an effective clean-up can be undertaken."
And Mr Hunt claimed the proposed development site was "highly contaminated".
Although initial development by Fisher German will not be directly on the tar pits, it has pledged that any building will include "remediation of the tar pits and any contamination issues identified on the site".
The development has recently been under public consultation prior to a planning application being submitted this autumn.
In 2007 the Environment Agency was responsible for regulating part of the Cinderhill site.
It had fencing erected around the pits to prevent people coming into contact with the tar.
Derek Stafford, Amber Valley Borough Council's assistant director for planning and regeneration, said a previous application on the site for 300 homes and 30 hectares of employment land was expected to be withdrawn.
Mr Stafford said: "The difficulty facing Fisher German, or anyone else who may wish to submit a planning application for the development of only part of the site, is how they would be able to secure the remediation of the tar pits as well as the provision of improvements to the surrounding road infrastructure and other infrastructure and community benefits necessary in conjunction with development.
"The council is continuing to work with the Commercial Estates Group in relation to the potential development of the whole of the site on a comprehensive basis, including how development can secure the successful remediation of the tar pits."
