Product category:
Waste Services and Water Storage
News Release from: Biogenie Site Remediation | Subject: Regenerating former gas works in Tunbridge Wells
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 01 February 2007
Barratt Homes use sustainable clean-up
technology
Barratt Kent, regenerating former gas works in Tunbridge Wells, are working with Biogenie Site Remediation who were part of the team responsible for designing and finalising the remedial scheme.
Barratt Kent is regenerating a former gas works in Tunbridge Wells The derelict land is being transformed into a residential development of 176 quality houses
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 1 Feb 2007 at 8.00am (UK)
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The regeneration of old gas works sites is notorious for presenting problems associated with contaminated land.
Barratt were keen to ensure that the contaminated land was treated with minimal environmental impact.
They, together with their consultants at Southern Testing, created a scheme to protect human health on the site, surface and groundwater and the local environment.
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Barratt looked for experienced contractors who could implement a sustainable remediation in the right timescale and at the right price while minimising disturbance to the local residents.
In particular Barratt wanted to reduce the amount of lorry movements to and from the site so the remediation scheme was designed to treat and retain as much of the contaminated soil as possible on the site.
Barratt appointed a group of companies for the work which included Biogenie Site Remediation who were part of the team responsible for designing and finalising the remedial scheme.
This included liaising with the regulators (Local Authority and Environment Agency) to gain approval of the treatment methodology and the clean-up targets to be reached.
Biogenie prepared a method statement and risk assessments before commencing clean-up.
Work commenced with a cut and fill earthworks exercise to reprofile the site and create a soil treatment area.
Excavation of contaminated zones then took place progressively including the removal of underground tanks and pipes as part of the old gasworks infrastructure.
The excavations were also dewatered and three million litres of water were treated and disposed of under consent.
Excavations were validated as clean by Southern Testing.
Over 30,000 cubic metres of contaminated soil was excavated dewatered and treated to meet the agreed risk-assessed targets.
This had to be done in phases alongside the groundworker who was building roads and foundations in parallel.
In-ground barriers were also created as part of the scheme and clean, imported soil used as a cap in the open spaces and residential gardens.
Ian Hardman, Barratt's Technical Director explains: "It was important to minimise the environmental impact of remediating the contaminated land while balancing this with our business needs of building quality homes for our customers".
"We wanted to reduce the need for lorry movements and ensure that noise, dust and odour were monitored closely and where necessary mitigation measures employed".
"In addition it is important for us to work efficiently to install groundworks in preparation for building houses".
"This includes construction of roads, street scenes and importantly show houses to effectively market the site".
"Biogenie worked around this programme managing the soil treatment within their promised timescales, so we could optimise work on the site".
Biogenie's General Manager, Dr Graham Holtom, concurs," It's important to be able to not only treat the contaminated soil effectively, it needs to be done to guaranteed timescales to deliver real value to a house builder".
"Barratt's had a development programme to regenerate the area and as remediation specialist we recognised we needed to work with them to realise that programme, not hinder it".
"A good remediation plan achieves its objectives and helps the house builder to achieve theirs".
"While meeting the risk assessment targets for the soil and the consents for any resulting environmental emissions meeting the timescales is also paramount to deliver real value".
Each batch of contaminated soil was treated effectively in 12 weeks.
From initial investigation to the first residential occupations was a period of 16 months.
The site will now support 176 high quality homes that have been selling well.
Barratt Kent have brought much needed housing to a site that was once derelict and unusable.
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