Supporting industry, construction sector and developers manage land, water and environmental obligations.

Detailed Phase 1 preliminary risk assessments set the standard for the rest of the land quality investigation.  Accurate identification of potential contaminant linkages allows good ground investigation design, but equally important are discounting those that are not plausible and ensuring any recommendations are site specific rather than generic.

Review of environmental constraints are an essential aspect of tender submissions to ensure, as far as possible, all risks have been identified and accounted for, making sure that post instruction, land quality surprises are avoided.

Understanding tenant activities and ultimate landlord liabilities and implementing an action plan to manage environmental legislation can help prevent large costs or even prosecution in the future.

Navigating the environmental permitting and regulatory system can seem daunting but it is important that the requirement to have a permit is assessed appropriately. There are numerous regulatory position statements and exclusions that can apply but these need to be assessed on a site-specific basis.

Hart Environmental are happy to undertake reviews to assess the need for different permits, develop risk assessments to support the application process, or just provide overarching advice.

Groundwater is a valuable resource across the UK and understanding the risks to groundwater from industrial or construction activities is essential to ensure we continue to protect this resource for future generations, and make sure adequate protection is in place to prevent pollution.

Generic screening HRAs may be requested by Water Utility companies or the Environment Agency, however these are also a useful exercise even where not formally requested.  It is always industries and developers’ responsibility to ensure groundwater is adequately protected.

Where contamination has been identified a detailed hydrogeological risk assessment may be required to determine the extent of remediation needed to protect groundwater, or indeed confirm if groundwater remediation is required.

A detailed remediation strategy may be required for many reasons and is often included as a planning condition.  An important part of all remediation strategies is options appraisal and sustainability assessment. 

These ensure that the remedial approach is appropriate, effective and, socially, financially, and environmentally sustainable.  A remediation strategy should never be a generic report.

Risks to surface water are from point sources and diffuse pollution and since both can lead to cumulative pressures on a water course, the initial starting point for all water assessments is planning for no deterioration.

Water assessments need to consider the current classification of a surface water and any current or future action plans, particularly where the development could impact or enhance delivery of these plans.

National Quality Mark Scheme (NQMS) – The NQMS was developed to raise standards and provide a transparent auditing approach to land quality assessments and reports.  Reports that adopt the NQMS approach will be reviewed by a registered Suitably Qualified Person and include a NQMS declaration.  The declaration demonstrates to Industry and Regulators that the work undertaken is of a high standard and is in line with current guidance and best practice.

Hart Environmental director, Liz Hart, is a registered suitably qualified person (SQP) under the NQMS.  Hart Environmental provide technical advice and the option of partnership working on projects, and can provide detailed peer review, including where appropriate NQMS declaration.

All Hart Environmental Ltd reports adhere to this standard and include a NQMS declaration.

Hart Environmental offer a range of bespoke group and individual training courses, please email Liz@hart-environmental.co.uk for more information and to discuss your specific needs.

Prior to the excavation and stockpile of made ground and surplus clean naturally occurring topsoil and subsoil a material management plan must be in place to demonstrate a clear and intended use of material, including the intention for direct transfer where appropriate.

Hart Environmental can act as your Qualified Person to review the material management plan, ensure it adheres to the code of practice and provide the registered declaration.  A QP review and declaration must be in place before made ground and imported topsoil / subsoil is reused.