High quality compost for brownfield redevelopment

WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme) is supporting the use of quality BSI PAS 100 compost across a range of different regeneration projects.

A 50-acre commercial park is being built adjacent to the M1 near Sheffield as part of the redevelopment of the former Smithy Wood Colliery and Coking Plant.

High quality compost is being used to improve the site and give the site a new lease of life, following completion of the reclamation works.

The first phase of the commercial park, which is set to include 50,000 sq ft of office space and up to 800,000 sq ft of prime industrial space next to a 50 acre wooded landscape setting, has just been completed.

Phase one involved constructing office space totalling 45,000 sq ft, which is currently being completed by landscaping.

The next phase will involve the construction of two industrial units, totalling nearly 50,000 sq ft.

The site's former usage as a colliery and coking plant has left the soil devoid of nutrients and unable to support plant life.

As part of its trailblazer programme, WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme) is supporting the use of quality BSI PAS 100 compost across a range of different regeneration projects, including Smithy Wood.

Over 2,000 tonnes of quality compost will be mixed on site with the existing subsoils to create a medium capable of supporting healthy plant growth.

The compost is being funded by Recycling Action Yorkshire (RAY).

The compost will be sourced locally from a supplier on the BSI PAS 100 certification scheme.

By using locally sourced compost in this way the cost of redevelopment, as well as the impact on the environment, will be significantly reduced as less waste has to be taken to landfill and topsoil no longer has to be brought in.

The Smithy Wood commercial site is being developed by St Pauls Developments Plc and the Norfolk Estate in partnership with Yorkshire Forward.

The first phase of the site was completed in January 2008.

Alex Peattie, Reclamation Manager for St Pauls Developments Plc said: "BSI PAS 100 compost was specified for use in the redevelopment of this site as we were looking for a recycled and sustainable material that wouldn't compromise on quality".

"By using quality green compost for the project we are looking to restore the poor quality soils on site by improving water retention and nutrient levels, therefore maximising the use of existing resources." WRAP's trailblazer programme is designed to help developers, specifiers and contractors realise the financial and environmental benefits of using and specifying quality compost in landscaping and regeneration projects.

Pilot projects at other sites conducted in conjunction with WRAP, have shown significant improvement in both cost efficiencies and the quality of the resulting topsoil.

In some cases, costs have been reduced by 50 per cent*.

Paul Mathers, Programme Manager for Landscape and Regeneration at WRAP, said: "Previous trials have shown that using locally sourced quality BSI PAS 100 compost as a soil improver, not only saves on transportation and landfill costs, it also produces good quality, fertile soil suitable for a wide range of uses".

"This trailblazer site will be the first to demonstrate the feasibility and benefits of using quality compost on an entirely commercial site." The BSI PAS 100 certification means that the compost, which is produced from source segregated garden waste such as grass cuttings, prunings and leaves, has been manufactured to a high quality and is also safe, reliable and consistent.

Andy Hartley, RAY, said: "Using good quality compost as part of the regeneration of brownfield land provides real economic and environmental benefits".

"Rapidly extending the good practice developed at Smithy Wood to the large number of coalfield and other heavy industry brownfield land sites is particularly important to regions like Yorkshire and Humber." For more information on how quality BSI PAS 100 compost can help reduce the cost of landscaping and regeneration projects, contact Paul Mathers at WRAP on 01295 817899 or visit the website.

*refers to published results of the regeneration of the Royal Ordnance Factory, Chorley (Restoring the land with compost report, published by WRAP on www.wrap.org.uk).

Back to top