Letting waste sites: an insight into Network Rail policy

Please note, this was reissued in October 2022 as a Practice Information document. It was previously published in February 2022 as an Insight Paper. No material changes have been made to the document. For more information on the document category changes, see the text part way down on this page.

In 2016 Network Rail developed a strategic framework for its sites near railway lines being used for activities such as waste management, storage, processing, recycling and car breaking, as scrapyards, or for moving or storing materials such as scrap metal or chemicals. Network Rail now uses this framework to improve management of its waste-related sites and help minimise risks for itself and tenants alike, as well as supporting continued enhancement of infrastructure for recycling and reusing waste. The company defines waste sites as land that is leased for any waste-related use, or any use that involves bringing waste on or off site.

This Practice Information paper from RICS provides an overview of this Network Rail framework, its key component parts and illustrates best practice for both the leasing and management of such sites. Given the growing demand for sites suitable for waste related activity, by publishing this paper, RICS provides some key learnings for professionals engaged in advising landlords and tenants of such sites and provides an insight into how best to minimise risk for all concerned.