Erection of Two Dwellings, Charter Lane, Charnock Rickard, Chorley, Lancashire

Due to the sensitive nature of the development (residential) a contaminated land planning condition attached to the decision notice for the proposed development, which the first part of discharging the condition was to submit a Phase I desk study report.

A desk study report identifies any potential issues / sources of contamination that may affect the site, the site history (based on O.S. maps, aerial plates and street level imagery) as well as information held by regulators (local authority, Environment Agency, BGS etc.).

The review of the O.S. maps revealed the site comprised of open land until circa 1963 when a number of buildings were noted on the site. A number of in-filled ponds were noted as well as what appeared to be a refuse tip within a former pond.

The data provided by regulators id not add any further information and no record of the in-filled pond to the north east of the site was noted.

On completion of the desk based review the site was subject to a walkover survey, this revealed that the site comprised of open land and the buildings identified on the O.S. maps had been cleared. Hand held boreholes using an auger were undertaken which revealed made ground on the site.

A qualitative risk assessment was undertaken, which discounted the in-filled ponds as credible sources of ground gases