Odour Impact Assessment – Salisbury – Wiltshire

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Odour Impact Assessment – Salisbury – Wiltshire 

 Acting on instruction from a client in Southwest Environmental Limited  are to prepare an Odour Impact Assessment in connection with a  proposed development in close proximity to a to a Sewage Treatment Works.
Odours from sewage treatment works can be created in numerous ways they can come from stockpiled materials, aeration areas, or digester which are sometime incorporated.We have seen some smells from sewage treatment works come from malfunctioning equipment. Ironically the very equipment that was installed to take away smells / odour.

Typically an odour impact assessment is not carried out based on direct “smells” that we for example might sniff upon visiting a site. Instead they are conducted using reference values, perhaps from other sewage treatment works.  
We take these values and feed them in to a model which is very complicated, and factors in weather, and when and where smells (odour) will be generated. The model then spits out a number, if it is higher than 3 then that is bad, if it is lower than 3 then all is well. 

Daylighting Study – Lambeth – London

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Daylighting Study – Lambeth – London 

Acting on instructions from a much valued repeat client, Southwest Environmental Limited have conducted a Sunlight and Daylight Study in Lambeth, London.  

The scope of the study includes for ADF value calculation and a Sun-on-the-Ground calculation, these are explained further below:
ADF- This is used to estimate the level of lighting inside the development prior to construction. In its most basic form it is a measure of window size to room size. i.e. is the window big enough for the room. Other factors also go in to the calculation such as quality of the glass, and whether daylight can reach the window i.e. is the window darkened by near by tall buildings. 
Sun-on-the-Ground – A shady cold cool garden can be nice in the summer, but in spring and autumn it can be gloomy. We can work out whether an outdoor area you have proposed will be bright or gloomy. We do this using the BR209 method, which is verging on witchcraft. 
Very happy to talk about any of the above so please ring for a discussion about it. 
 

Air Qaulity Assessment – New Kent Rd, London

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Air Quality Assessment – New Kent Rd, London

Southwest Environmental Limited have recently written an Air Quality Assessment for a site on New Kent Rd, London (SE1), the Air Quality Assessment report is for a small scale project. We prepare Air Quality Assessment Reports for any scale of project.

In this case the proposed project was at low risk of creating impacts as it was a single residential dwelling, the main focus of the report was assessment of risk from nearby sources such as New Kent Road.

NOX and Fine Particulate Levels fall off dramatically with distance, proving there is no canyoning effect. But in this case the streets lined with terraced houses do creating a canyoning effect which may prevent the dispersion of air borne pollutants.

This affect is hard to estimate, but we have used a review of nearby reports to make an estimate of air quality at the receptor (house) location and believe this will satisfy planning officials, with burdening the developer with disproportionate costs associated with bespoke modelling.

Image Courtesy of Luton Anderson 

Daylight Study – Gloucester

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Southwest Environmental Limited have recently completed a Daylight Study for a site in Gloucester. The study included for an assessment of daylighting impact from a proposed development, on existing neighbouring sites as part of the planning application.

The VSC calculations were carried out, and it was shown the the proposed building did not cause more than the recommended 20% reduction in VSC at assessed windows.

If you would like to discussing daylighting please call the office, we can talk for free or provide a quote for a formal study.

Waste to Land Feasibility Study – Devon

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Waste to Land Feasibility Study – Devon

Southwest Environmental Limited have recently carried out a Feasibility Study for a Company wishing to apply waste to land. The study was based around determining the amount of waste that could be applied to land for a given benefit.

The process includes using desktop data to build a hypothetical soil condition, and a hypothetical waste composition., These values are then used with nutrient allowance from RB209 to give a allowable tonnage of waste per hectare.

The study is conducted in light of applying for require permissions. There are two requirements for spreading waste to land. Firstly a permit, and secondly a deployment consent.

In order to achieve a successful application for deployment, many factor must be considered the most important of which is proving the waste is a recovery operation to the enforcer (The EA), if this cannot be done then the whole process is doomed from the outset.

Desktop Study – Wotton-under-Edge

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Desktop Study – Wotton-under-Edge

Southwest Environmental Limited have been commissioned to write a Desktop Study for a Site in Wotton-under-Edge.

Wotton-under-Edge is a market town within the Stroud district of Gloucestershire, England. Located near the southern end of the Cotswolds, the Cotswold Way long-distance footpath passes through the town. Standing on the B4058 Wotton is about 5 miles from the M5 motorway.



The proposed development is an extension to a property, and is adjacent to some in-filled land. This has flagged the requirement for a Site Contamination Assessment, the first stage of which is a Desktop Study. We aim to deliver the report on a 5 Working Days turnaround.

We are happy to discuss you site free of charge over the phone, so please give us a call. We try to be as quick as possible, and if you require a report quickly please say and we will do our best to get it to you for your required deadline. 

Contaminated Land Land Advice


Desktop Study – Leeds

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Desktop Study – Leeds

Southwest Environmental Limited have recently issued a Geotechnical Desktop Study for a site in Leeds. The report followed our typical format for a Geotechnical Desktop Study including sections on:
  • Site Information
  • Land Use
  • Geology
  • Ground Stability Issues
  • Mining History
  • Review of Legacy Borehole Data 

In this instance we were asked to provide climate data and earth quake (seismic) data. It is interesting for us when we asked to vary or reports! As we do get a l;little tired of following the same format time and time again.

Earth Quakes in the UK

The largest known British earthquake occurred near the Dogger Bank in 1931, with a magnitude of 6.1. Fortunately, it was 60 miles offshore but was still powerful enough to cause minor damage to buildings on the east coast of England. The most damaging UK earthquake was in the Colchester area in 1884. The BGS publish a map of seismic reflection which we used to find a value for the design. 

Climatic Variation 


There are of course good records for climate data in the UK, however we need to add allowances for climate change these are then added on to modelled variances, whether these be historic maximum values or modelled outcomes.

Flood Risk Assessment – Devon

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 Flood Risk Assessment – Devon

Southwest Environmental Limited have been commissioned to undertake a Flood Risk Assessment for two lake side holiday lodges, in Devon.

We were approached by Architects who provided plans and fave a description of the proposed development for 2 holiday lodges situate don the edge of a Lake.

This type of development is becoming very popular as it is the 3rd FRA we have prepared for such a development in the Southwest, in recent months.

A Pond

Perhaps the single most important factor is the likely flood depth. For this we have two sources, one being slightly quicker than the other which was used in this instance because the report was required on a quick turnaround.

Southwest Environmental Limited have prepared Flood Risk Assessments for a large variety of developments from small houses, to factories and 200 home developments, we provide the same high level of services to all clients regardless of project value. 

Travel Plan – Wigan

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Travel Plan – Wigan

Southwest Environmental Limited have been commissioned to write two travel plans for sites in Wigan. The plans relate to the upgrade of sports facilities within the Wigan area. 
The travel plan draws on data from a transport assessment, and and makes recommendation for target reductions in cars based transport with increases in sustainable transport methods such as walking. 
Did you know that 800m is considered a maximum reasonable walking distance when assessing Transport.  
The reports are currently being written and will be submitted to Wigan Council for review, and hopefully approval!

Transport Assessment – Thurrock

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Transport Assessment – Thurrock

Southwest Environmental Limited have recently been engaed to undertake a Transport Assessment for a School in Thurrock District Council. 

The Transport Assessment is to support a Planning Application for extension for a school. The extension includes numerous new class rooms as well as associated site layout improvements.

The transport assessment will include a baseline study, junction modelling and an assessment oif routes to and from the school.

SWEL have prepared numerous transport assessments in Thurrock, and can normally produce reports of this nature on a quick turn around.

We would be happy to discuss you project with you by phone or email. There is a no charge until we agree a fee for our services.