Brownfield Planning Condition Case Study

A property developer applied for, and was granted, planning permission for mixed residential and commercial development on industrial land. Given the historical use of the site as a fuel depot, the local authority applied ‘brownfield’ planning conditions, which called for a desktop study and risk assessment then, if necessary, a site investigation and remediation action to be taken.

Prior to purchasing the site, a limited due diligence desk study and investigation had been carried out by others, which suggested that a large scale and expensive remediation programme was required.

The work was deemed non-compliant with current regulations and to have a poor understanding of the brownfield issues by both the local authority and the Environment Agency.

Our solution

EES liaised closely with both the Environment Agency and Local Authority to determine their exact requirements. A review was then undertaken of the original desk study and investigation results to identify ‘information gaps’. This allowed a new desk study to be undertaken, and new regulator-compliant investigation and risk assessment work by EES.

The investigation involving trial pitting and boreholes as well as groundwater monitoring, leading to a greater understanding of the site’s brownfield characteristics such as the distribution of contaminants and the nature of the groundwater.

Close involvement with the building designers and engineers, and detailed quantitative risk assessment enabled the potential impact on both human and hydrological receptors to be fully assessed, and a realistic and cost-effective remedial strategy to be developed.

And the benefits

By working closely with the client design team, and fully understanding the requirements of current brownfield regulations, the project progressed smoothly and the work was fully approved by the regulators. From the legacy of a heavily oil-contaminated site, a fully commercial development build-out solution has emerged. The combination of effective consultancy, a practical approach and a willingness to seek cost-efficient solutions, has resulted in a successful brownfield development, and sustainable regeneration of an eyesore.

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