As with many forms of tax relief, there are conditions that have to be met and technicalities to overcome before the benefit can be realised.

The main problems facing taxpayers include defining the extent of eligible expenditure and, in particular, the interaction with substructure solutions and normal site preparation costs. Another frequently asked question is whether or not replacement materials qualify: the answer is dependent on the nature of the development.

The benefits are nevertheless significant enough to make dealing with these issues worthwhile. At a 30% corporation tax rate, developers will recover 15% of their qualifying land remediation expenditure, whilst investors and occupiers may recover up to 45%.