Environmental Consultants : Contaminated Land in Devon, Somerset & the South West
Providing a professional, personal service with cost-effective solutions.
Spry Environmental
An Introduction
As specialists in Contaminated Land Risk Assessment, we undertake Phase 1 Desk Study Assessments to assist you in achieving your planning permission and to satisfy the regulators.
We have a wealth of experience across agricultural, commercial and industrial sectors and take pride in having a broad experience base and in understanding that every site has a unique set of circumstances.
We also understand the commercial sensitivities of the development and work with you to achieve the best outcome and are happy to offer advice at the early stage of investigation to keep costs to a minimum.
We provide advice to farmers, developers, planners, engineers and architects.
About Us
Environmental Consultancy
Contaminated Land
Our Environmental Consultancy specialises in Contaminated Land Phase 1 Desk Study Assessments to accompany planning applications through the planning regime or through prior approval notification under the NEW Permitted Development Rights through The Town & Country Planning (General Permitted Development)(England) Order 2015 (GDPO).
Phase 1 Desk Study Risk Assessments (Preliminary Risk Assessments) include background research, data reports and a site walkover survey to understand site specifics e.g. slope, drainage, site sensitivity. A Conceptual Site Model (CSM) is used to identify all of the potential pollutant linkages on and surrounding the site and provides a useful summary of the all the information. Potential risks are suitably assessed and report recommendations for any further action are made. In many cases no further action is required.
Where significant risks are identified, a Phase 2 Intrusive Investigation (Quantitative Risk Assessment) would be required with sampling, which is the subject of a separate next stage of investigation.
Prices for a basic Desk Study report start at £595.
Definition of Contaminated Land
Environmental Protection Act (EPA) 1990
The Contaminated Land regime under Part 2A of the Environmental Protection Act (EPA) 1990 defines Contaminated Land as 'any land which appears to the local authority in whose area it is situated to be in such a condition, by reason of substances in, on or under the land that a) significant harm is being caused or b) significant pollution of controlled waters is being caused, or there is a significant possibility of such pollution being caused.'
Land contamination can be addressed when land is developed or redeveloped in several ways; under the planning system, during the building control process, independently by landowners or when necessary enforced by the authorities under part 2A legislation.
Brownfield first regeneration remains firmly on the government agenda and its simplification is a planning priority.
Assessments are carried out with regard to:
- British Standards (B.S. 10175)
- Contaminated Land Statutory Guidance (Part 2A) (April 2012)
- Environment Agency (EA) guidance (CLR11)
- EA guiding principles (GPLC1)
- EA guiding principles (GPLC2)
- EA guiding principles (GPLC3)
Planning guidance documents including Government Planning Guidance -:
Some land aspects such as Radon, hazardous gases, nuclear and ecological and invasive species surveys are not included as these are the subjects of investigation by other specialists.
Permitted Development Rights (2015)
Conversion of agricultural buildings into dwellings, in some circumstances, is now permitted subject to a 'prior approval notification' without the need for planning permission.
In April 2014 the Town & Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order (GDPO) added a new class 'MB' to allow for this. This has subsequently been reclassified as Class 'Q' under the NEW Town & Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order (GDPO) (England) 2015.
Certain exemptions and limitations do however apply.
The local planning authority often require an assessment of contamination risks on the site as well as assessments for transport, noise, flooding risk, site suitability and design/appearance.
Contaminated Land is the subject matter requiring approval for a number of Permitted Development 'change of use' classes, including but not limited to...
- Agricultural, Retail, Sui Generis, Office or Storage/Distribution use to dwelling house
- Agricultural building use to flexible use, state funded school or registered nursery.
The environmental designation of a site can be determined from a simple 'Environmental Search Report' that forms the basis of the required Contamination Report. If any such designation is determined at the initial stage we would advise you accordingly so that further consideration can be given to whether the application is still appropriate, saving you time and unnecessary expense.
I provide a professional yet personal Land Quality Service for the South-West.
Kate Spry Land Quality Consultant My ProfileTestimonials
What our valued clients think about our level of service
Kate, Congratulations! It shows what persistence can achieve.
…a detailed site assessment was undertaken enabling the risk level to be downgraded, resulting in both a substantial cost and time saving.
Ian Bix- Architectural and Building Consultant Ian Bix Associates LtdThank you again...
Thank you again for the letter to the Environment Agency. In the end, it was that which was instrumental in them withdrawing the condition request. As a consequence, planning permission was granted...
Kit and Kathryn Wells- Environmental and Business Continuity Consultancy Little Green Consulting Ltd‘Please pass on our sincere gratitude to all involved, in particular, Kate, for the efficient and helpful manner in which our project was dealt with throughout’.
Mulberry Tree Homes Ltd Mulberry Tree Homes LtdWe would not hesitate to use Spry Environmental again and cannot recommend Kate highly enough.
‘We have used Spry Environmental’s expertise on contaminated land on many occasions and each time Kate has proved herself to be competent at delivering excellent service, often to very demanding time...
XL Planning & Design Ltd- Planning Consultants XL Planning and Design LtdRead our testimonials in full by visiting our Testimonials page.
Associations
Member of the following associations
