Radon Affected Areas
Radon is a colourless, odourless radioactive gas. It is
formed by the radioactive decay of the small amounts of uranium
that occur naturally in all rocks and soils.
When an application for an extension, conversion or a new
dwelling is submitted to Building Control at Amber Valley Borough
Council we will check to see if the development needs to be
considered for protection against Radon Gas.
The Health Protection Agency defines radon affected areas as
those with 1% probability or more of a home having radon above the
action level. The Health Protection Agency recommends that people
in affected areas should test their homes for radon. Our searches
are based on the maps contained in Building Research Establishment
Report 211:2007, Guidance on Protective Measures for New Buildings.
Please use the My Property function on our website to see
these results.
Radon and house purchase
Even in radon-affected areas most homes do not have a radon
problem. Please visit www.ukradon.org to find out the
probability that a particular property is above the Action Level
for radon. The only way to find out whether it is in fact above or
below the Action Level is to carry out a radon assessment.
If you are buying a home, ask whether it has been tested for radon.
Sellers are not legally obliged to volunteer the information that
they know, but if you ask for it they must give it. Ask to see a
letter giving the result.
If, as will be found in most cases, the result is under the action
level for radon, 200 Bq m-3, the home does not need to
have the radon level reduced.
Should the result be over 200 Bq m-3, then
there is a problem. In homes that do have a radon problem, the
radon level can usually be reduced with simple, effective and
reasonably inexpensive measures.
Details about Radon when buying or selling your
home are available on the Building Research Establishment website.