Need Planning Permission? A little TLC can help

You have the land, you have the budget and you’ve made your plans. But your project can only get off the ground if you satisfy local planning requirements.

You have probably thought about the environmental impact of what you aim to do.

But have you considered the activity of previous owners of the site? Their actions years ago can affect the success of your application now.

A simple desk study report from a qualified environmental consultant such as Toxic Land Check (TLC) can support your application and alert you to any problems at an early stage.

A Phase 1 desk study assesses the likely risk that the land you are building on is contaminated by earlier activities on the site. Local authority requirements vary, so the first step is for your consultant to talk to the planning department to understand exactly what they will need to see.

By researching available information on the site, the consultant can check for possible sources of contamination which could affect either the soil on your site or the groundwater. As well as the basic records of ownership and land use there are other sources of valuable information. Any previous investigations connected with earlier proposals for developing the area may provide reports. Local newspaper archives may include coverage of any problems or concerns.

This research is likely to identify possible sources of contamination, but consultants also need to look at how any contaminant could spread through the site (‘pathways’) and who or what will be exposed to it (‘receptors’). After identifying likely issues, your consultant will ask to walk over the site, to link the background information with the current situation on the ground. This is known as a conceptual site model.

The Phase 1 report will assess the site’s expected ground and groundwater conditions, based on relevant geological and hydrogeological maps, background information and the site walkover. It will contain a qualitative risk assessment as to whether the site is suitable for its intended use. If there may be a problem, a Phase 2 contamination assessment will have to be done.

The aim of a Phase 2 investigation is to quantify the risks to people using the land. Samples from the site are analysed to identify the levels of pollutants in the soil. When the results are compared against UK thresholds, your consultant will be able recommend what action you need to take to make your land safe for the future.

Sometimes the risk is so low that no action is needed, but where there is serious pollution, remediation will be required. In consultation with the local authority, your consultant will work out a cost effective solution and supervise the remediation work.

Case Study

“I wanted to build on a small patch of vacant ground in greater London” says Sukdhev, “but I hit a snag. The local authority asked for information about the soil at my site because they were worried about pollution.”

Sukdhev asked Toxic Land Check for help. Kieren McDermott, from TLC, takes up the story.

“The local authority wanted proof that the soil was clean at some depth, so we bought in a digger to excavate trial pits. We got the work done in a few hours. The soil samples we took were analysed and were not contaminated. The local authority was satisfied that the land was not a risk to construction workers or future users and Joe was able to proceed with his building plans”.

If you are planning an extension or development and need help with a contamination issue contact Toxic Land Check on 0844 736 2505 or email info@toxiclandcheck.co.uk.

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Toxic Land Check (TLC) Limited

(Company No. 06768501).

Postal Address : Unit 8 Oldhouse Gardens, Park Rd, Twickenham, London, TW1 2QB.

Telephone / Fax No : 0844 736 2505 (Combined).