Residential Development, The Elms, Swansey Lane, Whittle-Le-Woods

In order to demonstrate that after the development the site could not be classified as ‘contaminated land’ under Part 2A of the Environmental Protection Act a Phase I desk study report was required to support the application for residential redevelopment f the site.

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 the site was initially (1854) undeveloped with a building being crossing the south eastern boundary between the 1962 and 1971 maps.

Street level imagery of the site confirmed the site comprised of a parcel of open land.

The planning history of the site was reviewed as part of the desk based research and reports associated with any previous application were located and studied, no salient information was sourced.

The published geological maps identified the site being in an area where the drift geology comprised of Devensian Till with head berign present on the south western area. he solid geology is given as the Marsden Formation (mudstone, siltstone and sandstone) of the Marsdenian epoch.

Data provided by the Coal Authority indicated that the site is not within a “Development High Risk Area”.

A review of the BGS borehole database provided one borehole on site and one on the northern boundary.  Made ground was not recorded with drift soils to approximately 2.6mbgl where sandstone was recorded.

Data provided by regulatory bodies confirmed the presence of a a canal and reservoir within 250m of the site as well as a landfill 215m north east. No further information on the landfill was availbile.

The sensitivity of controlled waters was undertaken to determine if the site posed a risk to the nearby water bodies/controlled waters, this concluded that as the controlled waters was of low risk indicating the groundwater was not a credible receptor.

On completion of the desk based research a site reconnaissance visit was undertaken, this confirmed the site comprised of open land with a stream running through the site.

Once the 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 potential for made ground to be in the area of the former building and the landfill off site required further assessment.

The report concluded that either site investigation (ground gas monitoring/site investigation) should be undertaken to assess the potential risks on the site or remediation in lieu of investigation (has protection measures etc.).

The Phase I report was submitted to support the application, the recommendations of the report were accepted (see the committee report) and the contaminated land planning condition partly discharged.