Environmental Investigation

New construction developments are now required to undergo a Phase 1 desktop environmental study. This is usually specified as a planning condition by the local authority or by the Environment Agency, and is often referred to as a contamination report. All our Phase 1 reports are compliant with Cornwall Council’s planning guidance, “Land Affected By Contamination,” published in June 2017.

Any problems identified in a Phase 1 Preliminary Risk Assessment are investigated further in a Phase 2 investigation, often referred to as a site investigation or soil contamination investigation.

Once the Phase 2 works are complete, we then produce a Phase 3 Remediation Scheme to define specific remediation measures required to address any issues identified.

Following completion of the Phase 3 works, we will undertake a Phase 4 Verification Report to record and report on the successful conclusion of the works.

Final compliance is confirmed with a Certificate of Remediation submitted to the Local Planning Authority.

Our Environmental Consultancy services cover Cornwall, Devon and the South West.

The Phase 1 Desk Study is an initial risk assessment based on BS10175:2011 and CLR 11. The report may be referred to as a desk study, preliminary investigation, preliminary risk assessment or contaminated land – risk assessment. They’re all essentially the same thing and form Phase 1 of the ‘Phased Approach to Land Contamination.’ We call it a Phase 1 Preliminary Risk Assessment. Cornwall Council’s useful ‘Validation Guide‘ A Guide to Submitting Planning Applications contains information on when and why a Phase 1 Report might be required, as well as what they should contain [page 25].

The main purpose of a Phase 1 Preliminary Risk Assessment is to collect information to enable the development of an initial conceptual site model. The conceptual model is based on the source-pathway-receptor model; where, for example, the source of contamination may be arsenic, the pathway could be ingestion of homegrown produce, and the receptor could be the inhabitant of the new dwelling. The conceptual model compares the likelihood of the source reaching the receptor, against the consequence. From this, a risk rating can be assigned which is used to determine the need for further investigation.

Information collected includes historical maps (dating back to the late nineteenth century), the geology, geochemistry, hydrogeology and hydrology of the site, current usage of the site and surrounding area, and previous site investigations pertaining to the site.

A walkover survey or ‘site reconnaissance’ also forms part of the Phase 1 Preliminary Risk Assessment and involves a visual inspection of the site to record any obvious signs of contamination (i.e. leaking oil tanks, asbestos etc). Photographs will be taken and included within the Phase 1 Preliminary Risk Assessment.

The report will make recommendations for any further investigations that may be deemed necessary as a result of the findings, and will be suitable for submission to local authority planning officers as part of the planning application for the site.

A flood risk assessment is an appraisal of the risk of flooding from all flooding mechanisms. The assessment is undertaken with guidance from The Nation Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), Planning Practice Guidance (PPG) and Drainage Guidance for Cornwall (2010).

The Preliminary Flood Risk report assesses the risk to a site based on the following:

• Site location and topography
• Proposed development
• Geology of the area
• Hydrology and hydrogeology of the area
• Perceived flood risk from fluvial, coastal, groundwater, reservoir, sewer and pluvial flooding methods
• Any changes to surface water drainage
• Impact to adjacent properties

Based on these factors recommendations will be made for any further investigations that may be deemed necessary as a result of the findings. These will be suitable for submission to local authority planning officers as part of the planning application for the site.

If required, this report can be undertaken alongside any of our mining, environmental or geotechnical reports.