Land assessment and remediation is part of the ‘critical path’ to achieving key goals for society such as new housing on brownfield sites, regeneration of derelict areas and major projects such as the Olympics.
The industry that carries out this work has gone through a period of rapid development in recent years. Looking ahead at the changes coming up in legislation, technology and market drivers, it looks set to continue to be a dynamic industry in the future.
EIC, therefore, has conducted a wide-ranging survey to find out more about the state of the industry, key barriers to growth, the policy framework and the industry’s view of the Government’s initiatives to help it develop. The survey was conducted between February – March 2008.

One of CL:AIRE’s core objectives is to demonstrate the application of technologies that may offer improved site-investigation techniques, monitoring or remediation solutions. In order to meet this objective, CL:AIRE has developed a process in which technology demonstration and research projects are submitted, evaluated by a team of independent experts and – if approved – monitored and reported so that the industry as a whole can benefit from the results. The CL:AIRE Technology and Research Group (TRG) evaluates each project against the following criteria:

• Scientific validity of the application;
• Robust nature of the methodology;
• Contribution to the UK contaminated-land marketplace;
• Suitable assessment of site criteria;
• Competencies in forms of project management.

CL:AIRE is recognised as an important player in delivering both technology demonstrations and technology research. Indeed, the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) requires that the Regional Development Agencies engage CL:AIRE on all major regeneration schemes that involve remediation.

The range of contaminated soil and groundwater remediation technologies applied in the UK has continued to evolve over recent years. This has not involved the emergence of brand new technologies, rather there has been increasing application of methods previously seen as ‘novel’ and also development of technology variants. What has been driving this? Certainly, increased scarcity and cost of landfill, along with higher haulage costs, have played an important role. Also important, is a growing recognition that remediation other than ‘dig and dump’ can be the best technical option.  

Environmental laboratories play a major part in any site investigation and subsequent remediation, but the scope and emphasis of the analysis is changing, particularly in line with recent legislation. Consultants and contractors are often faced with a bewildering range of testing, and it can be difficult to identify the most appropriate tests for specific sites or to monitor individual remediation treatments. It is helpful to highlight some topics/items which a consultant/contractor should be identifying when he/she selects a laboratory or defines a suite of testing...

Prior to April 2008, anyone carrying out a waste-management activity needing either a Waste Management Licence or a PPC permit was required to ensure that they had a “technically competent” person available. Demonstration of technical competence was demonstrated mostly through obtaining a Certificate of Technical Competence (CoTC). To qualify for a CoTC, you had to qualify in a relevant NVQ.
From 6 April 2008, new Regulations are coming into force in England and Wales replacing the permitting requirements of the Waste Management Licensing Regulations and the PPC Regulations. During the consultation on these new Environmental Permitting Regulations, views were sought as to whether the technical-competence requirement based on CoTCs needed to be changed. It was generally agreed that revision/update of the system was needed.

The UKTI’s Environmental Sector Advisory Group is made of industry leaders from across the sector and has identified target markets where UKTI’s support can add real value to the UK EGS sector. It is in these markets that EISU helps UK businesses to win business and provide influence in the area of policy and regulatory framework development. The markets in 2008/09 strategy include: Priority Markets – China, India, Brazil, Mexico, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and South Africa; and Opportunity Markets – S Korea, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Indonesia, Taiwan, UAE, Romania, Bulgaria; and Regional markets – Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia plus Ecuador, Colombia and Peru.