CONTENTIOUS plans to build social housing on the toxic former Ravenscraig Hospital site are in direct contravention of a United Nations health edict.

The UN's Committee of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights adopted a policy nearly 30 years ago declaring that housing should not be built on or beside potentially harmful pollutants.

Developer Link Group Ltd is set to erect 198 homes at Ravenscraig without removing any of the confirmed 'multiple exceedances' of dangerous substances which lurk in the ground there.

Link's strategy — which we can reveal today has been approved by Inverclyde Council — is to use 'capping layers' and the development itself as barriers to the excessive chemical pollution.

The UN directive states: "Housing should not be built on polluted sites nor in immediate proximity to pollution sources that threaten the right to health of the inhabitants."

The public health policy was adopted on December 13, 1991 and was issued by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

We revealed last year that pollutants on the sprawling 83-acre former hospital site — including asbestos, cadmium, mercury, arsenic and lead — were as much eight times above what the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs considers as 'suitable for use'.

Alan Cumming, who is leading a campaign against Link's housing plans, said: "It is appalling that in 2020 this has happened to our community.

"It beggars the question, if those driving this development forward are prepared to breach the human rights of the public, then what manner of people are they?"

Professor Andrew Watterson — an advisor to the World Health Organisation — says there is no safe level for carcinogens and that capping materials will ultimately fail.

The professor, of the University of Stirling, said: "The decision to build and cap is one relating primarily to cost/availability and not health protection."

Asked about the UN health directive, the professor said: "There is an inevitable tension between the need to reclaim contaminated brownfield sites, the demand for affordable housing and our ability and capacity to assess fully immediate and longer term risks to public health from remediated sites.

"The UN statement of 1991, which is still basically in force, flags the fact that housing should not be built on polluted sites and this is an excellent principle to guide policy.

"The argument from many developers, their consultants and local authorities in Scotland is that remediated sites are no longer 'polluted' sites in so far as any pollutants left on site will be minimal/no risk and not have pathways to residents.

"Unfortunately until we have up to date and independent long term rigorously researched publicly available peer-reviewed assessments of brownfield regulations and their enforcement and information on how exactly remediated sites may, have or will or will not affect public health, the argument remains an assertion and not fact.

"In these circumstances, the UN statement about not siting houses on polluted land seems a wise approach."

Link bought the Ravenscraig land for £1 in a deal involving the Scottish Government and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and is primed to receive £15m of public money for developing it.

Chris McEleny, leader of the SNP group on Inverclyde Council, last month demanded a 'full review' of the proposal, declaring that public trust in the development had evaporated.

He said: "As a council, we need to build our communities by bringing them with us, and I don't think anyone can say that is the case with this development now."

Labour councillor Colin Jackson, who voted in favour of the development when it was approved by five votes to four last March, has since said he would now oppose it.

Link refused to comment on the UN contaminated land declaration.

A spokesperson for the housing provider said: "At the end of last year, Inverclyde Council released a statement confirming Link has prepared a remediation strategy which is in line with all current legislative guidance and has been approved by Inverclyde Council's contaminated land officer.

"This remediation strategy will be implemented and monitored to ensure it complies with the conditions pertaining to the planning consent for the site.

"The council's approval has brought the delivery of the first phase of 149 much needed affordable family homes a step closer to reality, in a housing development where placemaking has been intrinsic to the high-quality design proposed.

"This year, we will consult with local people and other stakeholders to gather feedback on areas proposed for a community woodland and how best this can be used as a community asset."

Inverclyde Council did not respond to the Telegraph's request for comment.