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Clients, in both the residential and commercial sectors, are increasingly turning to instructive testing to determine whether the site, they either own or are about to acquire, is contaminated.  Intrusive investigations with either soil and / or groundwater sampling is the only definitive method of determining whether a site has actual contamination.

Site investigations usual take the form of a Phase 2 report which is compliant with standard industry guidelines, namely CLR11. The Phase 2 report ordinarily follows a Phase 1 desktop study which identifies significant potential risks to human health or the water environment. At the time of redevelopment the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) states that the ‘the minimum information that should be provided by an applicant is the report of a desk study and site reconnaissance’. This is an integral part of the process that will determine whether a Phase 2 investigation is required.

Various levels of intrusive investigations are available for you or your client. The level of investigation ranges from a simple ‘Garden Investigation Report’ to the more complex Phase 2 investigations that can require installation of cable percussive boreholes to great depth to allow for initial and ongoing monitoring.

The Garden Investigation report usually involves using no more than two hand dug trial holes to a depth of up to one metre from which soil samples are collected for chemical testing in order to identify any contaminants of concern. Wilbourn Associates offer an extremely quick and efficient service for garden investigations.

The more complex Phase 2 reports are often required for larger redevelopment sites where there are complex potential contamination issues associated with either historical and / or current uses of a property.

Wilbourn Associates only use UKAS accredited laboratories which have MCERTS accredited testing methods.  We apply the same strict protocols whether the investigation is for more small residential gardens or more complex commercial sites.  Wilbourn Associates can also assist with investigations for contamination, geotechnical (foundation design) or to confirm the presence of shallow mine workings.

It has been reported that allotments in the Marsh area of High Wycombe are to remain closed following their closure by the Local Authority in March 2009 after soil surveys revealed heavy metal contamination. Wycombe District Council is reported to have said that remediation is not feasible. The full story can be found here.

Other reported cases include allotments in Newcastle upon Tyne, where ash was found to be contaminated with high levels of cadmium, lead and zinc and the possibility of deadly cancer-causing dioxins. The source was believed to be an adjoining waste incinerator plant from which around 2,000 tonnes of waste ash was deposited over land by the Local Authority to make hard pathways.

The contaminants may arise as a result of general urban/industrial activity or pollution from houses, roads and allotment tenants. Potential risks to human health may arise from the consumption of allotment produce containing elevated concentrations of potentially toxic substances and the inhalation of contaminated soil particles. Chemical contaminants frequently found in elevated concentrations in allotment soils include heavy metals, such as lead, mercury, copper and zinc, organic pollutants such as polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Other potential contaminants include pathogens and asbestos fibres.

As with any assessment for potential contamination, the starting point is research of historical uses. If there are concerns, soil testing, and for certain parameters, crop testing can be undertaken which may also be advantageous to local allotment associations to be able to certify to their members that the plots they hold are not contaminated.

Depending on the size or number of allotment plots, testing may typically involve the hand excavation of trial holes to a depth of up to one metre, from each of which two soil samples are collected for chemical testing in order to identify any contaminants of concern which may present a risk to human health.

For allotments with potentially more serious concerns from underground tanks or landfills, it may be necessary to drill boreholes to obtain deeper soil samples and establish monitoring wells for gas and groundwater monitoring.

Wilbourn Associates offer a quick and efficient service for soil investigations and use only UKAS accredited laboratories which have MCERTS accredited testing methods for soil. We also apply the same strict protocols as we use on more complex commercial sites and care is always taken to leave sites in a tidy condition upon completion.

Relates pages

• Site investigations
• Site investigations and good practice
• Environmental reports

The changes to the Control of Asbestos Regulations, 2012 are in practice fairly limited.   The main change relates to the introduction of notifiable non-licensed work (NNLW).  This requires the relevant person to undertake a risk assessment based approach to determine whether the type of asbestos work is either licensable, NNLW or non-licensed work.  This is done on a case by case basis and will depend on the type of work carried out, the type of material working on and its condition.

If the asbestos work is deemed to be NNLW then the relevant person must notify the work to the enforcing authority, keep a record of the job and ensure all workers have a medical examination.

We are very pleased to announce that we have opened a London office dedicated to serving London and the South East with our full range of environmental services. For the last 20 years we have happily served the whole of the UK from our main office in Sheffield but when the opportunity presented itself we jumped at the chance to develop our presence in this region and better serve our clients particularly fellow surveyors, developers and the financial sectors.

Our new office is based in the centre of London at

For any enquiries please contact us:

Tel: 0203137634

email: info@environmental-surveyors.com