Permit Variation – Trowbridge – Wiltshire

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We have recently been commissioned to undertake a Permit Variation  in Trowbridge, Wilshire.

 

The site has been running under an existing permit for a number of years, but an upgrade to some of their equipment will mean that an environmental permit variation.

 

On the face of things this would seem fairly easy, but in reality it is very tricky as the EA often ask for all kind of information, which might extend to activities outside of the variation.

 

For example if you were to vary the permit because you are installing a new boiler over 1 MW, they may also ask you to provide new emissions data on your abatement system for dust extract.

 

More often than not things can and do inflate past the requirements for what logically might be expected when varying an environmental permit.

 

If you would like to find out more please call for a no obligation chat.

 

 

Flood Risk Assessment – Bristol

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Flood Risk Assessment – Bristol 

Southwest Environmental Limited have recently been commissioned to prepare a flood risk assessment for a site in Bristol (Avonmouth). The site is subject to tidal flooding and, as if typical with the majority of the Avonmouth area, is low lying.

Avonmouth – Docks

Key factor explored in the flood risk assessment will be the anticipated flood depths from tidal, fluvial and pluvial (rain) flooding, and then design of mitigate measures.

In this instance the application is retrospective which will create further challenges. We will have to make sue of the current site lay out, existing outbuildings and other factor in order to present a positive proposal.

The report will include a Exception Test and Sequential Test. 

Image rights

Description
English: The Royal Edward Dock at Avonmouth, 13 March 2014.
Date
Source Own work
Author N. Johannes

Independent Review of Planning Documents – St Albans

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Independent Review of Planning Documents – St Albans

We have recently been offered a small job by St Albans Council to look over a Planning Application, and provide steering on likely Environmental Impacts to the development.

The situation is quite unusual in that the a housing development was being assessed on the basis of proposed impacts from a large mineral working & landfill scheme, that had not yet commenced. 

The mineral working (quarry) scheme in question had been approved by environmental permitting, but planning permission was still pending at the time of our review.

We reviewed the extensive Environmental Impact Assessment that had been submitted in support of the Quarry & Landfill Application.

We made review of the following Environmental Impact Assessment chapters:

  • Noise Impact
  • Dust Impact 

We also recommended for further assessment in following areas:

  •  Bio Aerosol
  • Odour 

The main benefit to the local populace was the restriction of the sites operating hour to standard business hours.

Bio Aerosol and Dust risks typically fall away quite quickly at a distance of 250m from source, as the housing site was within 250 meters of the proposed quarry and landfill we recommended further assessment in these areas.

Surface Water Drainage Reporting – Essex

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Surface Water Drainage Reporting – Essex

Acting on instructions from a repeat client we have prepared a number of drainage reports and plans for a project in Thurrock , Essex.

The work included a BRE 365 Report, A Surface Water Drainage Strategy and a Detailed Drainage Plan.

Surface water drainage requirements have become more and more onerous over the last few years, and you can expect a good deal of detail to be required at planning.

We used falling head test results from borehole soak-away tests to derive a required soak-away size in accordance with BRE 365.

We were then able to work up a detailed drainage scheme, include attenuation volumes, and drainage layout, drainage details and invert / cover levels.

BRE365 Soak-Away Testing in Gloucester

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BRE365 Soak-Away Testing in Gloucester

SWEL recently received a phone call from a company in Gloucester who needed a BRE 365 soak-awat report for a planning application. They happened to have a digger and a water supply on site, so we attended site on the same day to take measurements etc. and produce a report (the following day).

We also included some surface water drainage strategy in the report, and made a robust conclusion that will hopefully see that the planning related matters are satisfied.

A Large Excavator

The digger used was really rather karge for the job, we would normally use a 2.5 ton digger. But in this instance we had a 20 ton beast, with a 1.5m wide bucket. Needless to say the holes were quite large.

If you require some soak-away testing undertaking we can help out, maybe not on the same day as we did here but we will do our best.

Foul and Surface Water Drainage

Desktop Study – Margate

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Desktop Study – Margate

Southwest Environmental Limited has recently been commissioned to undertake a Desktop Study Report in Margate, UK (there is one in the USA too). 
The report will use maps, historical information and other data to make a review of the site in terms of likely hood of contaminated land. 
We are providing the report on a quick turnaround in less than 5 working days. 
SWEL have been providing quality desktop reports to industry and individuals for over a decade.
This report is for a residential development. 

Compliance Reviw at Pharmaceutical Company – Woking

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Compliance Review at Pharmaceutical Company – Woking

 

Southwest Environmental Limited have recently visited a Pharmaceutical Company near Woking, a Town situated to the Southwest of London. 
We were invited to attend site so as to make a review a specific processes and make comment on whether they were appropriate. 

There was the over all site process and classification to consider, and also the waste streams created on site, and consideration of compliant disposal routes. 
We completed our review and provided a comprehensive write up of our findings within 3 working days of the site visit. 
Southwest Environmental Limited has been advising complex industries on compliance for over a decade, we work hard to understand you process so we can supply the best possible advise.

Odour Impact Assessment – Devon

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Odour Impact Assessment – Devon

Southwest Environmental Limited have recently issued an Odour Impact Assessment report for a large poultry unit in Devon.
The report accounts for the placement of a large number of broiler (for meat) chickens in two sheds. 
There were various receptors near site that are sensitive to odour the limit being set at 3.0 eOU/m3.  
We use an AERMOD model to derive a Annual 98th Percentile Mean. 
The model use source inputs, which we referenced from the SCAIL report and receptors  are chosen, based on  proximity and sensitivity.

Ammonia Assessment – Cornwall

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Ammonia Assessment – Cornwall

Southwest Environmental Limited have recently completed an Ammonia Assessment for an an agricultural building in Cornwall. 
The building is a large modern dairy unit with  associated yard areas and slurry management infrastructure. 
The brief from the client was to conduct a SCAIL Assessment so as to establish whether the project would screen out using this method of preliminary assessment. The project did not screen out, showing an exceedance of  ammonia deposition and concentration at nearby sensitive ecological receptors. 

Following this we constructed am AERMOD model to incorporate all features of the proposed development, and determined deposition and concentrations at the receptors that did not screen out in the SCAIL Assessment.
Our model return ed a positive result and we have submitted the report for assessment by Natural England.  

Flood Risk Assessment – Battersea – London

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 Flood Risk Assessment – Battersea – London

Acting on Instruction from an Architect Southwest Environmental Limited have begun preparation of a flood risk assessment in Battersea, London.

The proposed development is for a property refurbishment with a basement extension. The flood risk assessment will look at fluvial, tidal and surface water flooding risks.

We will also make an appraisal of flood defences in the area. Most of the flood defences along the Thames are being upgraded to account for climate change, and as such provide a 1:1000 year protection levels provided they are no breached.

The proposed development does not include sleeping of primary living accommodation at basement level, this is advisable as the Environment Agency will Ilkley object to sleeping accommodation in basements, when in Flood Zones 2 or 3.