Conversion of Agricultural Buildings to Dwellings, Soham, Ely, Cambridgeshire, CB7
Case Study Reference: 22-03-11
Planning Authority: East Cambridgeshire District Council
Planning Reference: East Cambridgeshire District Council and 22/00130/ARN
Synopsis:
Due to the site being agricultural and the potential for site soils to be impacted by activities associated with this use a contamination risk assessment was required to support the application.
In order to assess the potential for the site to be impacted by elevated concentrations of contamination a Phase I desk study report was prepared for the site. A desk study report assesses the potential for a site to be impacted by using a wide range of sources including Ordnance Survey maps, information provided by regulators (Environment Agency, local authority, Coal Authority, BGS etc.).
The history of the site and the surrounds was researched using a combination of historical O.S. maps, aerial plates and street level imagery. This revealed that the site was not developed until circa 1985 and aerial plates indicated the western area was developed between 2003 and 2008.
Date provided by the Environment Agency identified a pond and a cemetery to the east of the site as well as the site having been a nursey.
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 potential sources on the site. The visit revealed a tank to be present on the site as well as hydrocarbon staining.
On completion of the site visit a qualitative risk assessment was undertaken in order to determine which of the potential sources warranted further investigation, this concluded that the tanks on the site as well as the made ground on the site posed a potential risk and further works were proposed, remediation as an alternative to parts of the investigation were also proposed.
The desk study report was submitted to support the application and the recommendations for both site investigation and remediation in lieu of investigation were accepted.
