Borstal - Watchlist site 15

Factory Farm at Borstal is a privately owned site located on the Medway Estuary in North Kent. It is estimated that up to 35,000 tonnes of waste have been illegally deposited on part of the site. Some tipping may have started as early as 2018, but most of the waste was tipped during 2021 to 2022. The tipped material is believed to mostly comprise soils and construction waste. Tipping ceased at the site in early 2024.  

Kent Fire and Rescue Service has reviewed the site. Although it has deemed the site to be low risk, due to its location and poor water supplies, swift action would be needed should a fire break out to reduce any damage to surrounding land and habitat.

The Environment Agency has assessed that there is minimal risk to the environment and the waste at watchlist site 15 does not present a flood risk. However, we have ensured that the site is now closed to any future activity and have launched a criminal investigation into the illegal undertakings at the site. We have served an enforcement notice on the landowner to removal the illegally despite waste from site by April 2027.

Helped in our task by Medway Council since 2022, the illegal dumping of waste has now ceased following several site visits by Environment Agency officers and Medway Council officials, along with demands on the landowner to stop the illegal waste activity.

Working with our partners, we will continue to monitor the site, assess environmental risks and always take appropriate regulatory action, where necessary.