Social housing bosses move to build nearly 200 new homes in Greenock on land contaminated with cancer-causing chemicals.

An initial environmental report on the sprawling 83-acre Ravenscraig Hospital site has highlighted 'multiple exceedances' of a range of dangerous substances.

Civil engineering consultants Fairhurst — hired by developers The Link Group Ltd — say that health risk safety measures will be required in ALL proposed gardens at one end of the development.

A 38-page dossier, based on a 'preliminary' site investigation, also urges 'vigilance' in case 'additional sources of gross contamination' are discovered.

Poisonous substances discovered on the land include cadmium — a metal known to cause cancer — and mercury, exposure to which, according to the World Health Organisation, can be fatal, as well as arsenic and lead deposits.

The Link Group Ltd has submitted a planning application to Inverclyde Council for a development of 198 new homes for social tenants within the grounds.

However, the Fairhurst report states: "It is considered that remediation measures with regard to human health end users will be required in some areas of the site."

The document adds that a 'capping layer' including a strong synthetic fabric is required in all gardens and soft landscaping in the north-western areas.

The Telegraph told last Friday how campaigners against the proposed development have ramped up their opposition following the discovery of infestations of Japanese Knotweed at the site.

Now that the Fairhurst report has been published, one objector said today: "The presence of these soil contaminants surrounding an industrial scale 19th century institution with accompanying kitchens, laundry and an incineration plant, all powered by coal, gives some indication of the potential level of toxicity that lies below this structure.

"Without a full grid survey of the entire site it is impossible to know the full extent of the toxicity that will ultimately be present, or indeed the full impact on human health."

The Fairhurst report says that the risk to end users through ingestion, direct contact and inhalation is low for most of the site, but considered to be medium in the north west section 'due to multiple exceedances recorded within this area'.

The report also identifies a health risk to construction workers if the council's planning board gives the green light to the proposed development, which includes the demolition of the former hospital — a listed building of 'regional importance'.

It states that a 'linkage to human health through ingestion and dermal contact exists on-site', adding: "Construction and maintenance workers should use personal protection equipment and relevant personnel should follow (Health and Safety Executive) guidance on the safe redevelopment of contaminated sites."

Edinburgh-based The Link Group Ltd — whose Inverclyde offshoot is Larkfield Housing Association — refused to answer a raft of questions posed by the Telegraph regarding the proposed Ravenscraig Hospital development.

Bosses failed to mention the toxic ground contamination highlighted in the Fairhurst geo-environmental and geotechnical interpretive report in their response, and merely repeated a previously issued statement we published last week which acknowledges the presence of Japanese Knotweed and asbestos.

Inverclyde Council confirmed that the Fairhurst report is based only on 'preliminary site investigations', adding that a full probe will only be carried out if the historic listed building is razed to the ground.

A Municipal Buildings spokesman said: "The nature of contamination encountered thus far is as anticipated with some marginally elevated concentrations found in the artificial deposits, which is typical of brownfield sites.

"The main site investigations are to take place on completion of the site demolition works.

"It is anticipated that proposals for a remediation scheme will be submitted to the planning authority once the main investigations and risk assessments are complete."