This mixed residential and commercial development comprised the conversion of a number of existing farm buildings. Staddlestone Barn and Long Barn were converted to form two dwellings and the Hayloft Barn was converted to form office accommodation. Associated landscaping and parking was provided, open “cart shed” garaging was erected and site entrances reconfigured.

Because of the past usage and proposed residential use a phase one environmental report and site walk over were undertaken. The potential for some site contamination was confirmed and an area of potentially contaminated fill material was also identified during the site walk over.

An intrusive phase two investigation was therefore commissioned comprising general sampling across the site and targeted sampling of the “fill” material. Contamination of the fill material was confirmed and a simple remediation strategy in the form of a barrier between the material and site users was developed and implemented.

One of the general samples from a proposed garden area showed elevated levels of lead.

In order to avoid unnecessary soil removal further testing was undertaken in this area for lead.

None of the additional samples had elevated lead and it was concluded that the one isolated exceedance  of soil guideline criteria did not constitute a significant risk to human health and therefore no remediation was required.

The proposed development comprises a single storey children’s day nursery school.

At the time of survey the site was not in use but had previously been used for keeping horses and briefly as a railway contractor’s yard.

The development comprises the nursery building surrounded by hard landscaping with areas for either soft landscaping or astro turf. Access to the property is gained via a dedicated entrance in Croxted Road.

Phase 1 and phase 2 environmental studies were undertaken. Slightly elevated concentrations of contaminants were found and it was recommended that barriers were installed to prevent contact between site users and any potential contamination.