Change Of Use Of Office Building To Form 3 Self-Contained Flats, North Albert Street, Fleetwood, Lancashire, FY7

THE PROJECT

Site context.
Practical findings.

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 the prior approval application for the conversion fo the office building to flats.

A Phase I desk study report assess the potential for a site to be impacted by contamination, this is undertaken by researching the history of the site and the surrounds as well as a review of information held by regulatory bodies and a site visit.

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 was developed between 1848 and 1890.

Street level imagery confirmed the building had been used as a solicitors offices in March 2009 with the building being on sale on the April 2017 image.

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

The published geological maps identified the site as being underlain by Tidal Flat Deposits which in turn were underlain by the Kirkham Mudstone Member. As no publicly available boreholes for the areas were available from the BGS no further information ion ground conditions could be obtained.

Deposits of made ground were recorded to be present 200m east of the site on the 1:10,000 scale maps.

Data provided by regulatory bodies identified a pit 245m north of the site as well as a tram stop 35m east.

On completion of the desk based research a site reconnaissance visit was undertaken, this confirmed the site comprised of a former office.

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 whilst the potential for made ground to be present on the site posed a potential risk, given the development would comprise of landscaped areas (no private gardens) then remediation of the landscaped areas in lieu of further works was justified.