We are pleased to present this book which showcases ... - WSP Group

ENVIRONMENTAL
Breme Park Bromsgrove, UK
INNOVATIVE REMEDIATION SOLUTION ENABLES SUCCESSFUL DEVELOPMENT
OF FORMER INDUSTRIAL SITE
WSP’s remediation team has designed and completed an innovative
and sustainable remediation solution to enable the transformation of
a former drop forging works into a flagship residential development
and technology park.The remediation has brought about the
regeneration and redevelopment of a large tract of blighted land,
providing much needed employment for local people in the
immediate and long term.
The sensitive location of the 22 ha site above a major aquifer,
combined with the extensive and widespread nature of
contamination from 50 years of heavy industrial activity, represented
a significant development challenge. Contamination included
saturation of soils with heavy oils, an on-site landfill containing
hazardous substances, and over 20 000 sq m of land affected by neat
oils floating on the groundwater table from leaking sumps, tanks and
industrial operations.
WSP was appointed in advance of the sale of the land to undertake
a rapid programme of ground investigation to quantify liabilities
associated with the proposed redevelopment and provide a
guaranteed maximum price for remediation.This facilitated the
purchase of the site by Persimmon Homes, who then commissioned
WSP’s specialist land remediation arm to undertake the remediation
of soil and groundwater under a fixed price contract.
The approach was based on the on-site treatment of the majority of
contamination at a fraction of the cost of traditional off-site disposal.
The work was integrated with the demolition programme to reduce
the time required for remediation.
Human health and controlled water risk assessments were
undertaken in close and extensive consultation with the regulatory
authorities, who have since used the site as an example of best
practice in land remediation in their staff training sessions.
Our ability to provide cost certainty at the point of acquisition and
deliver the project on time and to budget has resulted in the site
being one of the most successful brownfield reclamation projects
within Persimmon’s portfolio and has reinforced the company’s
desire to continue to develop on complex brownfield sites.
Remediation work at Breme Park included:
■ Management and verification of site decommissioning, asbestos
removal and demolition works;
■ On-site treatment of oil hydrocarbon contaminated soils using
bioremediation to reduce the concentration of total petroleum
hydrocarbons (TPH) to agreed target criteria;
■ Remediation of light non-aqueous phase liquids from a network
of 350 groundwater remediation wells using WSP’s proprietary
vacuum extraction techniques – over 15 000 litres of oil
recovered from the groundwater;
■ Disposal of untreatable PCB contaminated soils to landfill
or for incineration;
■ All contamination reduced to below agreed target concentrations;
■ All works signed off by regulatory authorities.
Client:
Persimmon Homes
Project team:
Architect: RPS
Project value:
£2.4M
Project size:
22 ha former drop forging works
WSP services:
Geo-environmental investigation
Hazardous materials survey
Quantitative risk assessment
Remediation design
Remediation of contaminated soil and groundwater
Regulatory authority sign-off
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