Residential Development, Burrowmoor Road, March, Cambridgeshire

A desk study determines what issues relating to historical contamination may affect the site, this is undertaken by reviewing the site history using a combination of O.S. maps, aerial, plates and street level imagery, a review of data held by regulatory bodies (Environment Agency, local authority, BGS etc.) as well as a site walkover survey.

The review of the history of the site revealed that the site was developed circa 1926

Information provided by regulators did not provide any further salient information.

On completion of the desk based assessment a site walkover survey was undertaken, which confirmed the site had been cleared, deposits of made ground were sporadically noted across the site.

On completion of the walkover survey a qualitative assessment was undertaken, which concluded that the only potential source of contamination was the made ground on site. Given the residential history of the site remedial proposals (removal of  made ground in garden areas) in lieu of  further intrusive works.

The report was submitted and the proposals for remediation were rejected by the local authority, the report was revised and resubmitted and the proposals for further works approved.

The Phase II report was undertaken in September and October 2013, which comprised of the excavation of three trial pits , these revealed made ground in two locations, samples of the mad ground were subject to chemical analysis which revealed that the made ground was impacted by elevated concentrations of  polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH’s), and remediation was proposed.

The Phase II report was submitted with F/YR13/3062/COND, the decision notice confirms the contaminated land planning condition was discharged.

Once the Phase II report had been accepted the Phase IIIa Implementation Plan could be created, the plan was a method statement of how the remediation would be undertaken and when the works need to be validated, which allowed development to commence.