Geo-Environmental Risk Assessment

Geo-Environmental Risk Assessments

With land development, it isn’t clear what could be below the surface of the ground. By uncovering historic ground hazards early, you can protect project timelines, control budgets and maintain strict environmental protection standards from day one.

An effective way of doing this is with the help of a geo-environmental risk assessment. The combined evaluation investigates both the physical geology of your plot of land and the presence of underlying chemical pollutants to give you a definitive picture of site safety before you consider committing any money towards it.

We work with a team that can produce practical insight to satisfy the requirements of planning officers, overcome technical hurdles, and keep development schemes moving forward.

What is Geo-Environmental Risk?

Geo-environmental risk is the name given to hazards arising from both subsurface engineering constraints and harmful substances in the ground.

Whenever historic industrial activity, waste disposal or natural mineral deposits leave behind toxic substances, the outcome is what is known as land contamination.

If it’s left without the right sort of management, the contaminants can work into underlying aquifers, degrade building materials, and create risks that could threaten human health.

At the same time, however, unstable geological strata, former mining workings and poor load-bearing ground can undermine foundation design and cause severe structural damage.

Between the environmental and geotechnical factors, both need to be assessed to ensure that the site is made safe and suitable for the intended use.

When Would You Need a Geo-Environmental Risk Study?

In most cases, the requirement for a geo-environmental risk assessment is triggered during the planning process.

A local planning authority will commonly request a risk appraisal before validating an application or attach a pre-commencement planning condition to an approval on brownfield or previously developed sites.

In line with the requirements of the present paper and prevailing government planning policy, developers need to formally demonstrate that the land is suitable for the proposed use.

To highlight the common reasons, a geo-environmental risk assessment would be needed when:

• Applying for Commercial, Residential or Mixed-Use Planning Permission on Land with an Industrial Past
• Carrying Out Due Diligence Before Purchasing Land or Commercial Assets to Avoid Inherited Cleanup Liabilities
• Discharging Land Quality or Contamination-Related Planning Conditions
• Meeting Statutory Requirements Enforced by Regulatory Bodies Across the UK
• Satisfying Structural Warranties, Lenders or Insurance Providers Regarding Site Stability

Types of Assessments for Geo-Environmental Risk

Under British standards and government framework guidance, assessing ground risks follows a progressive structure.

Several phases make up the process, but not all of them are needed, depending on the circumstances and requirements of the client:

Phase 1: Preliminary Risk Assessment (Desk Study)

The initial stage is a preliminary risk assessment, commonly referred to as a desk study.

As it sets the precedent for uncovering baseline information and working out the appropriate next steps, it can sometimes be the only part of the process needed.

Our geo-environmental consultants are able to conduct the Phase 1 in-house, with all other phases coming from a trusted external company we partner with.

During the first stage, our team reviews historical Ordnance Survey maps, geological sheets, hydrogeological records and environmental agency databases to identify past uses for the plot of land and the land directly surrounding it.

It will then lead into a comprehensive walkover survey to inspect the land in person, checking for visual cues, such as distressed vegetation, fuel storage tanks, suspect fill materials and evidence of fly-tipping.

Based on the resulting data, we can go on to build an initial conceptual site model (CSM) that charts potential contaminant sources, pathways and receptors.

If the assessment confirms that no plausible links exist, you can often submit the report directly to satisfy the local council and complete the assessment without needing any potentially expensive physical works.

Phase 2: Intrusive Ground Investigation

If Phase 1 flags potential contamination links or unstable ground, an intrusive ground investigation may be needed.

As the secondary stage involves heavy plant and specialist drill rigs, we partner with fully accredited ground engineering contractors to deliver the work on your behalf.

Specialists will collect core samples, dig trial pits and install monitoring standpipes to analyse the physical ground conditions.

The step also includes chemical laboratory testing of soil matrices, as well as targeted groundwater sampling and soil gas tracking to quantify the exact pollutant levels.

Phase 3: Remediation Strategy and Options Appraisal

At the point of intrusive testing confirming significant pollutant linkages, the next stage will involve designing an actionable remediation strategy.

As with Phase 2, we can refer to our partner network to coordinate a plan for mitigating or breaking the identified contaminant pathways.

Potential solutions could include excavating and removing contaminated hotspots, installing engineered clean-cover barriers in garden areas, fitting protective gas membranes inside buildings, or working in soil stabilisation works to support structural loads.

Phase 4: Verification and Validation Reporting

In the final phase of the process, the geo-environmental specialists will provide verification and validation.

After all remediation measures are completed on-site, our partners will put together an independent validation report.

The finished document contains photographic records, soil disposal receipts and topsoil test certificates.

More than anything, the report offers the definitive proof needed by the Environment Agency (EA) and municipal planning officers to formally discharge your planning conditions and confirm that the development site is safe.

Help with Geo-Environmental Risk

Extensive geo-environmental risk management has experts combining desk studies and a walkover survey to check if a site’s past activities have left behind land contamination or unstable ground.

Our team conducts the Phase 1 preliminary risk assessment in-house, and if you need anything else after this point, we can put you in touch with a trusted and experienced team of specialists.

If it turns out that further information is needed to address concerns about the site and risks to human health, we can work with you to arrange a more comprehensive ground investigation and a more in-depth evaluation of ground conditions.

Plan Your Geo-Environmental Risk Assessment

By getting your site evaluated early, you can prevent costly redesigns and avoidable hold-ups from happening further down the line.

Regardless of what you need to help with your possible geo-environmental issues, we would recommend getting in touch with us, and we can then guide you with what you need and what to do next.

Either call us, email us or fill out a quote form on our website. Our team will create a free quote based on your needs and give you options for dates to get the ball rolling.