Tick Icon Gain Valuable Insights
Tick Icon Technically Robust
Tick Icon Regulator Approved

The Cost of Unforeseen Contaminated Land Problems

There is a lot at stake if you don’t have a suitable Phase 2 Site Investigation that clarifies the condition of your site…
Our Phase 2 Site Investigation is a relatively small price to pay compared to the value of your site which could bring significant risk. The sooner you get clarity on your site’s prospects, the sooner you and your design team can make even better decisions.

Contaminated Land Consultants Committed to Getting Your Site Approved and Built

Your specialist Contaminated Land Consultant is part of a dedicated team of Chartered professionals who have been successfully gaining regulatory approval for clients all over the UK, ensuring that their sites are safe and compliant places to live and work.

Our Phase 2 Site Investigations are expertly prepared by experienced consultants who are committed to providing you with technically robust reports that are tailored to meet your plans for the site.

  • Tick Icon Reduce your risk, by gaining valuable insights
  • Tick Icon Technically robust report, written to highest standards
  • Tick Icon 98% sign off success rate, very satisfied regulators

Meet Your Consultant

Phase 2 Site Investigation

Our Consultants can review your site and guide you through the complex process of undertaking a Phase 2 Site Investigation, so you can get your site approved and built.

They are ready to get started.

Get Your Phase 2 Site Investigation

1

Get Proposal

Answer a few questions, so together we can come up with a plan that fits your timescales and budget.

2

Phase 2 Site Investigation

We work through the complex process of organising the site works and carrying out the Phase 2 Site Investigation.

3

Receive Report

Written with a regulator in mind to gain approval, so you can take action to ensure a safe and compliant site.

Could You Require A Phase 2 Site Investigation?

A Phase 2 Site Investigation is the second stage of a phased Contaminated Land Assessment and involves intrusive excavation of the ground.

It is often required by local planning authorities to discharge planning conditions, remove objections and support planning applications.

A Phase 2 Site Investigation is only undertaken once a Phase 1 Desk Study has been completed and the preliminary risk assessment has clearly identified sources of contamination that warrant further investigation.

A Phase 2 Site Investigation typically involves the recovery of soil and groundwater samples from a site to analyse if contamination is present. The preliminary risk assessment is then reassessed based on any contamination that could be present.

A Phase 2 Site Investigation is the second stage of a phased contaminated land assessment that is often required to discharge planning conditions or remove objections, once planning permission has been granted.  A Phase 2 is usually required following approval of a Phase 1 Desk Study, where potential sources of contamination have been identified, and the risks from which require further understanding.

In addition to supporting the planning process, a Phase 2 Site Investigation can also be used to:

  • Satisfy NHBC land quality conditions (or any other warranty provider).
  • Provide financial security for banks, mortgage lenders and landowners involved in a transaction/ change of freehold.
  • Provide legal security to solicitors who may be conveyancing as part of land purchase.
  • Support Environmental Due Diligence audits.
  • Inform an Environmental Statement for inclusion into an Environmental Impact Assessment

The purpose of a Phase 2 Site Investigation is to physically inspect the condition of the soil, groundwater and surface water that may have been impacted by the sources of contamination identified in the Phase 1 Desk Study. The Phase 2 Site Investigation is site specific with the method(s) of investigation chosen being dependent on a number of factors, such as access, operational constraints, geology, potential contaminant sources and the receptors to be targeted (e.g. shallow soils, groundwater).

The most common methods of investigation employed during a Phase 2 Site Investigation may include:

  • Hand excavated pits and hand augering.
  • Machine excavated trial pits using a JCB (or similar).
  • Windowless sample boreholes.
  • Cable percussive boreholes.
  • Hollow stem and solid stem rotary boreholes.

Lustre Consulting prides themselves in designing cost effective and compliant investigations that effectively target contamination which could be in the subsurface and present a pollution risk. In most cases, it is also possible to combine the Phase 2 Site Investigation with a Geotechnical Investigation should further information be required on the engineering capacity of the ground to aid foundation design.

To meet your requirements and ensure you remain compliant, all our Phase 2 Site Investigations are carried out in accordance with current guidance such as the recommended approach set out in the Environment Agency’s Model Procedures for the Land Contamination Risk Management (LCRM) and the British Standard Code of Practice Investigation of Potentially Contaminated Sites (BS 10175: 2011).

All investigations are carried out by qualified and competent consultants who are experienced in the recovery of samples, in situ testing, soil logging and environmental monitoring to the British Standard Code of Practice for Site Investigation (BS 5939:1999). The findings are detailed in transparent and informative reports with clear and helpful conclusions and recommendations (if necessary) to carry out any required remediation.

Our Phase 2 Site Investigation reports regularly receive positive feedback from clients and regulators alike, and have been instrumental in successfully gaining planning permission and discharging conditions for a number of new development sites.

These are some frequently asked questions when commissioning Phase 2 Site Investigation:

Do I need a Phase 2 Site Investigation?
Do you have any planning conditions attached to your planning permission? If so, the conditions may have details which require a Contaminated Land Assessment or Phase 2 Site Investigation.

What if I have a Phase 1 Desk Study that suggests additional investigation is required?
It is recommended that the completed Phase 1 Desk Study is submitted to the local planning authority for review and comment, ideally before commencing with any Phase 2 Site Investigation work. We will utilise recommendations of a Phase 1 Desk Study to inform what type of site investigation is required.

How long does a Phase 2 Site Investigation take?
In terms of programming, we will usually require at least 1 to 2 weeks from receipt of formal instruction to mobilise onsite depending on the scale of the investigation. The chemical analysis on soils will take 1 to 2 weeks after submission of the last soil or water sample.

What if there is limited space or access on my site?
We will assess the testing requirements of your site as well as any access restrictions when we prepare our site investigation proposal. Our experienced consultant have worked on a range of sites where access restrictions have been overcome.

What if I need WAC testing?
Will there be a need to dispose of any soils during the future development, possibly as part of the enabling works? If so, we can carry out waste classification and Waste Acceptance Criteria (WAC)  testing as part of the Phase 2 Site Investigation. WAC tests are now required by most landfill sites to allow them to determine whether they are able to accept the waste.

How to you avoid underground services when doing your investigation?
A site investigation should not commence until the location of all services has been determined as they pose a significant health and safety risk. If up-to-date plans are not available, we recommend requesting them from the utility companies. If timescales are tight, we recommend a service clearance survey which can be combined with a level survey or a topographical survey if required.

How can I be sure I need a Phase 2 Site Investigation?
If you are unsure as to whether you require a Phase 2 Site Investigation, please give us a call, so together we can discuss your requirements. Alternatively, please send an email to info@lustreconsulting.com and provide us with the site location and description of the proposed development.

Sites Successfully Approved and Built

A former timber yard located off North Street, Barking received planning permission for redevelopment into residential use including houses with private gardens, apartment blocks and communal amenity space (including a children’s playground). Lustre Consulting was appointed to undertake a Phase 2 Site Investigation to work towards discharging a planning condition.  The investigation comprised window sample […]

A former timber yard located off North Street, Barking received...

The client, who is a small developer, required a Phase1 Desk Study to firstly support a planning application, and then a Phase 2 Site Investigation to discharge planning conditions. The proposed development comprised clearance of the site and construction of five luxury dwellings with large private gardens. The Phase 1 Desk Study identified several buildings […]

The client, who is a small developer, required a Phase1 Desk...

This site was granted planning permission by the Secretary of State for the development of 350 100% affordable low rise houses and apartments. The site comprises approximately 24ha of open space, bisected by a former sand pit and pond. Site investigations undertaken since the 1990s found the pond (1ha in area and up to 4m […]

This site was granted planning permission by the Secretary of...

A former large scale fuel storage and distribution depot is in the process of being redeveloped into a commercial development. The depot, located within a chalk quarry, was decommissioned around 15 years ago with all associated infrastructure removed. Prior to Lustre Consulting’s involvement several investigations, dating back over a decade, had been conducted. The investigations […]

A former large scale fuel storage and distribution depot is in...

Start your Site Investigation today