Pre Purchase Audit of a Chemical Works, Chemical Lane, Newcastle Under Lyme, ST6

Planning Reference:

Synopsis:

As part of the searches associated with the sale of the property and business the potential liabilities associated with the site being impacted by elevated concentrations of contamination needed to be assessed. Demeter Environmental were commissioned to prepare reports to provide additional information on the risks associated with the site.

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 part of a brick and tile works, later maps identified a refuse tip on the site. The site was further redeveloped and by 1948 map by a warehouse.

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, five previous applications were noted and the documentation did not provide any salient information.

The 1:10,000 published geological maps identified the presence of made ground on the site, the 1:50,000 maps identified made gorudn being present on the southern boundary. The drift soils as Devensian Till with alluvium present on the eastern area of the site.  The drift was underlain by the Etruria Formation (sandstone and mudstone). The borehole section sheets published by the BGS were reviewed and no borehole in close proximity to the site were available hence no further information on ground conditions could be obtained.

Data provided by regulatory bodies confirmed the presence of a number of ground workings within 250m of the site as well

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 being used for the storage of chemicals.

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 the site had the potential to be impacted by ground gases.

In order to furth assess the potential risks from ground gases monitoring wells were installed in the landscaped areas of the site and monitored over a 4 week period. This revealed that whilst ground gases were recorded in the monitoring wells there was no evidence of the gases flowing and no indication of the accumulation of gases within the buildings. This provided sufficient information to allow the purchasers to complete with the purchase.