Erection of Two Dwellings, Victoria Road, Bletchley, Milton Keynes

Case Study Reference: 13-09-08

Planning Authority: Milton Keynes Council

Planning Reference: 13/01342/FUL and 13/02580/DISCON

Synopsis:

Due to the sensitive nature of the development and that the site was adjoining a site (a former garage developed to apartments) determined a ‘contaminated land’ under Part 2A of the Environmental Protection Act a contaminated land planning condition was attached to the decision for the proposed development.

Demeter Environmental were commissioned to prepare the reports required to discharge the contaminated land planning conditions. The first stage was to prepare a Phase I desk study report.

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 first stage of the preparation of the desk study report was to review the history of the site and the surrounding area using Ordnance Survey maps as well as aerial plates and street level imagery.

Whilst the site had been subject to little development, a council depot was present adjacent to the site and a number of potentially contaminative land uses were identified in close proximity to the site.

 

Data provided by regulators identified the land to the east) as being determined as “Contaminated Land” as well as an electricity substation and garage ion close proximity to the site.

 

 

 

On completion of the desk based assessment a site walkover survey was undertaken, this revealed that the site was an overgrown parcel of land with a partly demolished building and rubble associated with the demolition.

On completion of the walkover survey the potential source s of contamination was subject to a qualitative risk assessment, which discounted all potential sources except for the adjoining council depot as credible sources, and based on this further works were proposed.

Once the proposals for further works were accepted by the local authority the Phase II site investigation was undertaken The fieldwork comprised of the sinking of dynamic sampling boreholes along the north eastern boundary in order to determine if the adjoining land has impacted on site soils..

A thin layer of made ground was noted over natural soils, samples were taken for chemical analysis which demonstrated there was no evidence of the migration of any contamination form the adjoining site.

All reports and correspondence can be accessed via 13/02580/DISCON