Erection Of Single Storey Rear Extension To Existing Industrial Unit, Bretton Street, Savile Town, Dewsbury, WF12

Given that the site was identified as potentially contaminated land alongside the presence of a landfill in close proximity and information from the Coal Authority the 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 (1855) undeveloped and was developed between 1956 and 1972 when a depot was present on the site. Street level imagery indicates the site has been occupied by MasterPrint from before the October 2008 image. A railway line was noted on the eastern boundary.

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, the delegated report associated with the application provided additional information on the coal mingling legacy as well as details of the gassing of a landfill 90m from the site.

The published geological maps identified the site being in an area where no drift soils were recorded to be present. Deposits of made ground were noted on both scale geological maps. The solid geology is given as the Pennine Lower Coal Measures Formation (mudstone, siltstone and sandstone) of the Westphalian epoch.

Data provided by the Coal Authority indicated that the site is within a “Development High Risk Area”.

A review of the BGS borehole database did not reveal any boreholes in close proximity to the site.

Data provided by regulatory bodies confirmed the presence of a number of parcels of potentially in-filled land as well as a landfill 75 west as well as a number of works/depts in close proximity to the site.

The sensitivity of controlled waters was undertaken to determine if the site posed a risk to the nearby water bodies, this concluded that as the bedrock was of low risk indicating the groundwater was not a credible receptor and no further assessment was warranted.

On completion of the desk based research a site reconnaissance

visit was undertaken, this confirmed the site was used to house skips and pallets as well as some general storage associated with the business.

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 on site, the underlying coal seams and in-filled land/landfill in close proximity to the site warranted further assessment.

The plans of the proposed development were inspected and it was clear that there would be no landscaped areas and the extension would not be air tight, this information was used to discount the pollution linkages associated with made ground and ground gases

The Phase I report was submitted (2022/44/93927/E) to discharge the contaminated land planning condition, the ‘Consultee Responses [id 975405]’ confirms the recommendations of the report were accepted and the condition discharged.