Contaminated Land Assessments

What is Contaminated Land?

Contaminated land refers to soil, groundwater, or surface materials impacted by hazardous substances that could pose a risk to human health, property, or the environment.

Common sources include:

• Historical industrial and commercial uses (fuel storage, workshops, factories)

• Infilled land and waste deposits

• Spills, leaks, or poor waste management

• Use of pesticides or hazardous materials

Typical contaminants include hydrocarbons, heavy metals, asbestos, solvents, and PAHs. Understanding their presence and behaviour is the foundation of every compliant land assessment.

What is a Contaminated Land Assessment?

A contaminated land assessment is a detailed process designed to identify, evaluate, and manage the extent of contamination within a site. Through comprehensive environmental data collection; including soil, groundwater, and gas sampling, we determine the nature and magnitude of any contaminants present.

The primary objective is to assess potential risks to human health, buildings, and the wider environment. This risk evaluation informs whether remedial or management actions are necessary to make the site suitable for its intended use.

Our assessments support safe, sustainable, and compliant development in line with planning policy, environmental legislation, and regulator expectations.

Why Contaminated Land Assessments Matter

A contaminated land assessment provides clarity on whether land is suitable for its intended use a critical requirement for planning approval, design, and development.

Assessments are often requested by Local Planning Authorities, Environmental Health Officers, or the Environment Agency, and are essential for:

• Meeting contaminated land planning conditions

• Avoiding unforeseen remediation or disposal costs

• Protecting future occupants and construction workers

• Demonstrating compliance with the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and local planning policy

Failure to undertake a suitable assessment when requested can delay or even prevent planning approval.

Our Phased Approach

We follow a phased approach in accordance with BS 10175:2022, BS 5930, and the Environment Agency’s Land Contamination Risk Management (LCRM) framework.
Each phase builds on the previous one to deliver a clear, regulator-approved outcome.

Phase 1: Preliminary Risk Assessment (Desk Study)

A desk-based review of environmental data, historical mapping, and regulatory records to identify potential contamination sources, pathways, and receptors.
Learn more about Phase 1 Desk Studies

Phase 2: Intrusive Site Investigation

Targeted sampling and testing of soil, groundwater, and ground gas to confirm whether risks identified in Phase 1 are present, and to what extent.
Learn more about Phase 2 Site Investigations

Phase 3: Remediation Strategy

Developing a clear, cost-effective, and actionable plan to manage or remove contamination, ensuring the site is suitable for its proposed use.

Learn more about Remediation Strategies

Phase 4: Remediation Verification

Confirming that remediation works have been completed successfully and demonstrating compliance with regulatory requirements or providing independent verification for land transactions and acquisitions.
Learn more about Remediation Verification