Britain's Worst Illegal Waste Dump Found on Land Partly Owned by the King

Britain's so-called "worst illegal waste dump" has been found to sit partly on land owned by the King.

A vast pile of around 25,000 tonnes of rubbish has accumulated in Bickershaw, Greater Manchester, raising fears about pollution from harmful chemicals and plastic waste. Roughly one third of the site is on land owned by the Duchy of Lancaster, the King's private property portfolio.

However, the Duchy may not be required to cover the cost of clearing the site, with responsibility potentially falling to Wigan council — a move that could leave taxpayers facing a bill of several million pounds. Under feudal laws dating back around 750 years, the Duchy is exempt from certain regulations and duties that would normally require a landowner to clean up such a site.

Local residents say the dumping began in January 2025, when lorries started regularly delivering waste to the area.

"It's absolutely horrible here," said one resident, who asked not to be named. Another described the site — dubbed Britain's worst illegal waste dump — as being overrun with rats. Several locals also claimed authorities were slow to act when complaints were first raised.

Confusion over who is responsible for the land has been compounded by the complexity of the ancient legal framework governing ownership.

An Environment Agency spokesperson said: "We are doing everything in our powers to manage the site in Bickershaw and identify those responsible, including launching a major criminal investigation and interviewing individuals under caution."

A spokesperson for Wigan council said: "Local authorities have a duty to ensure best value for residents. Any arrangement offered by the Duchy of Lancaster would need to be carefully considered, particularly as the value of the land is unlikely to exceed the cost of the clean-up. As one of the affected landowners, the council is taking steps to clear its own land and continues to urge all other impacted landowners to meet their obligations."

A Duchy of Lancaster spokesperson said: "Approximately 30 per cent of the illegal tipping site was vested to the Duchy from its previous owner in July 2025 through a process known as escheat. At that point, the Duchy contacted Wigan council to seek a resolution. We remain fully committed to working with the community and relevant agencies to address this issue and mitigate the impact of illegal waste tipping."