Contaminated Land Surveys & Reports

What are the stages of a contaminated land assessment?

Contaminated land refers to areas that contain substances potentially hazardous to human health and the environment.

Land is classified as contaminated if:

It contains significant levels of harmful contaminants.
There is a risk to people or the environment.
Contaminants can reach the receptors in harmful quantities.

Contaminated land specialists at IKM Consulting can identify the pathways linking the contamination source to the affected subjects. This connection is known as the pollutant linkage.

Former industrial sites such as petrol stations, gas works, oil depots, and factories are likely to contain harmful chemicals that cause land contamination.

What is a Contaminated Land Risk Assessment?

A contaminated land risk assessment, also known as a contaminated land survey or contaminated ground risk assessment, is often required for planning applications. It involves a thorough analysis to determine the extent of contamination on a site.

This assessment evaluates the contamination potential, the risks posed by present contaminants, and whether actions are needed to mitigate or remediate these hazards.

Conducting contaminated land assessments before purchasing land is advisable to ensure compliance with planning conditions set by local authorities, the National House Building Council, SEPA, or the Environment Agency.

Without a contaminated land assessment, planning permission from your local contaminated land officer will not be granted.

A contaminated land assessment by IKM Consulting involves four phases, outlined below. Depending on the contamination issues detected, all phases may not be necessary.

What are the four phases of a land contamination risk assessment?

Phase 1: Desk Study and Site Survey

Also known as a preliminary risk assessment or a contaminated land report, a phase 1 desk study provides a qualitative assessment to determine:

The likelihood of contamination sources within or near the site.
The severity of any impacts from contamination.
The risks to future users, buildings, and the environment.

Desk studies reference historical maps, aerial photos, local and national archives, geological records, groundwater vulnerability maps, and regulatory records to assess potential hazards. Experts follow government guidelines on land contamination risk management to identify source-pathway-receptor connections.

Sometimes, a site visit is conducted to supplement the mapped data and determine if an intrusive investigation is needed.

Phase 2: Contaminated Land Investigation

If the phase 1 desk study suggests potential contamination, a phase 2 intrusive contaminated land site investigation and refined risk assessment are necessary.

These investigations determine if there are unacceptable risks to people, property, or the environment, leading to appropriate remediation actions.

Corrective actions may range from simple soil sampling with hand-dug pits to borehole drilling, soil testing, and groundwater and gas monitoring.

Phase 3: Contaminated Land Remediation

When unacceptable risks are identified, remediation or mitigation measures are required to proceed with commercial or residential developments.

Phase 4: Verification

Remediation work is verified to ensure the site is contamination-free and fit for its intended purpose. IKM is experienced at providing full or part-time supervision of remediation works, including: