Erection Of An Agricultural Workers Dwelling, Catterall Lane, Catterall, Preston, Lancashire, PR3

Given the sensitivity of the development (residential) 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 the site was initially an orchard which was cleared by the 1913 map. A pond was noted on the northern and southern boundaries of the site, the northern pond had been in-filled by 1987.

The planning history of the site was reviewed as part of the desk based research and the reports associated with the previous application were located and studied, six applications were noted for the farm, the supporting documents were reviewed and no salient information was sourced.

The published geological maps identified the site as being underlain by Devensian Till which in turn was underlain by the Sherwood Sandstone Group. The borehole section sheets published by the BGS were reviewed and no borehole in close proximity to the site were available hence no further information on ground conditions could be obtained.

Data provided by regulatory bodies confirmed the presence of there ponds within 100m of the site as well as the buildings to the west of the site being used as a farm.

On completion of the desk based research a site reconnaissance visit was undertaken in order to obtain further information on the potential sources identified in the desk based research and to identify any other potential sources. The walkover survey confirmed the site was an open parcel of land with a stockpile of rubble (stones) was noted on 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

 In-filled pond on the northern boundary warranted further assessment.  The report proposed either ground gas monitoring or the incorporation of gas protection measures in lieu of monitoring.

The report was submitted to partly discharge the contaminated land planning condition (21/00299/FUL), the recommendations for the report were accepted and the local authority required the ground gas monitoring to be undertake, the condition partly discharged pending the submission of the further works.