Erection Of Three Dwellings Following Demolition Of Existing Lock-Up Garage, Stanifield Lane, Farington, Lancashire

Given the sensitive nature of the development (residential) and the history of the site (workshop), a contaminated land planning condition was attached to the decision notice for the proposed development.

The first stage of discharging the condition was to prepare a Phase I desk study report in order to determine if the site has the potential to be impacted by elevated levels of contamination, and to determine the source as well as the likelihood of the risk occurring.

 A desk study determines what issues relating to historical contamination may affect the site, this is undertaken by reviewing the site history using a combination of O.S. maps, aerial, plates and street level imagery, a review of data held by regulatory bodies (Environment Agency, local authority, BGS etc.) as well as a site walkover survey.

The history of the site and surrounds were researched using a combination of Ordnance Survey (O.S.) maps, street level imagery and aerial plates, this revealed that the site had previously been open land and an orchard until the 1961 map when the site was occupied by residential garages.  A number of ponds and two reservoirs were noted on the maps, all of which were in-filled by 1970.

The planning history of the site was reviewed, no salient information was obtained.

Data provided by regulatory bodies confirmed the presence of a reservoir and a pond within 200m of the site.

On completion of the desk based research a site reconnaissance visit was undertaken, this identified the site was occupied by two blocks of residential garages in various states of disrepair. Cement sheeting was also noted on the site.

Once walkover survey was completed a qualitative risk assessment was undertaken on the potential sources of contamination identified in the desk study report in order to determine if any warranted further investigation, this concluded that the made ground, cement sheeting, the use of the site as residential garages and in-filled land off site posed a risk to the proposed development.

In order to further assess these potential issues further works were proposed.

The Phase I report was submitted to partially discharge the contaminated land planning condition (07/2017/1413/DIS), the recommendations of the report were accepted.