Complementary services

BRD recognise that communication is the key to allaying public fears regarding contamination. BRD often assist clients and local authorities in producing information for distribution to the local community. Extending this open and transparent approach to dealing with contamination risks, BRD regularly produce environmental summary reports for completed development sites that provide information to buyers in layman's terms so that complex issues can be easily understood.

Many sites come with existing environmental reports and BRD often help clients by undertaking a technical peer review of existing information. Such a review may reveal additional risks that the client was unaware of or further investigation work that is required. With the rapid change in contaminated land guidance, a report only a few years old may not meet today's standards.

With the legislative changes to the waste industry through the implementation of the Landfill Directive, BRD is increasingly helping clients classify waste soil in accordance with the appropriate sampling and testing protocols

A common requirement for development sites is the import of topsoil for landscape areas. BRD always caution clients to be careful in the selection of topsoil sources and ensure that they are chemically suitable for use. Particular care is required where the topsoil is a screened mixed product. There has been more than one occasion that BRD have been aware of imported topsoil being more contaminated than soil previously disposed of during remediation works! In order to avoid such difficulties, BRD offer to inspect topsoil sources and sample them prior to import to site to ensure they are chemically suitable for use.

Where a contamination risk exists above a major aquifer, BRD can prepare risk assessment for foundation works in accordance with the requirements of the Environment Agency's guidance on piling and other penetrative ground improvement methods on land affected by contamination.

The spread of the invasive plant Japanese Knotweed continues across the country and is regularly found on derelict sites. Any action in a knotweed infested area that may cause the plant to spread or grow in a new area is an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. BRD's team of consultants is trained to identify Japanese Knotweed so that its presence can be brought to the attention of our clients and are equipped to advise the most appropriate strategy for particular circumstances.

Key BRD consultants are trained and experienced in ordnance recognition and safety supervision. BRD experience in this field can help identify when a specialist in the detection and clearance of Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) needs to be brought into a project team.