Pre Purchase Audit of a Commercial Unit, Union Street, Ashton-Under-Lyne, OL6

Planning Reference:

Synopsis:

In order to support the sale of a commercial unit a Phase I desk study report was required to asses the potential for the site to be impacted by contamination and if there was a possibility that the land would be classified as ‘Contaminated Land’ under Part 2A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

The first stage of the work was to prepare a Phase I desk study report in order to determine if the site has the potential to be impacted by elevated levels of contamination, and to determine the source as well as the likelihood of the risk occurring.

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 history of the site and surrounds were researched using a combination of Ordnance Survey (O.S.) maps, street level imagery and aerial plates, this revealed the site was initially (1892) occupied by dwellings which were cleared circa 1932 and by 1964 the current building had been erected. A number of potentially contaminative land uses were identified within 250m of the site.

The planning history of the site was reviewed as part of the desk based research and the reports associated with the previous application were located and studied, no salient information was noted.

The published geological maps identified the site Devensian Till underlain by Pennine Middle Coal Measures.

 

 

On completion of the desk based research a site reconnaissance visit was undertaken in order to obtain further information on the potential sources identified in the desk based research and to identify any other potential sources. The walkover survey confirmed the site was occupied by a commercial unit being used as a garage.

Once the walkover survey was completed a qualitative risk assessment was undertaken on the potential sources of contamination identified in the desk study report in order to determine if any warranted further investigation, this concluded that whilst the risk to the current users wre minimal there was a potential risk to adjoining end users and any redevelopment would require some investigation.