(TEEP) Assessments

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(TEEP) Assessments 

TEEP (‘technically, environmentally and economically practicable’ ) Assessments are designed to establish whether separate waste collection are technically, environmentally and economically practicable.

Based on the continued uptake of segregated waste collection, it is clear that the general outcome of technically, environmentally and economically practicable TEP Assessments, is that comingled waste collection is not technically, environmentally and economically practicable.

The requirement for TEEP stems from The EU revised Waste Framework Directive (r-WFD) was transposed into UK law through the Waste (England and Wales) Regulation 2012. The r-WFD clarifies key concepts such as the definition of waste, recycling and disposal. The directive places more emphasis on the waste hierarchy and improving the quality of collected recyclable material that is sent to re-processors.

Various quangos have produced guidance on how best to implement the directive, but a significant part of the process is the TEEP assessment, at the time of writing there are 42 councils in the UK, that have not done this.

If you require assistance in carrying out you TEEP, then please get in touch SWEL can help.

Application for Connection to Thames Water – Barking

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Application for Connection to Thames Water – Barking

Southwest Environmental Limited have recent applied for a connect to thames water sewers, on behalf of a repeat client. The application procedure is not overly onerous, but it does help to have background knowledge of the site.

Back in 2014 SWEL produce a Surface Water Drainage Strategy for this site and so we are familiar with the asset arrangement in the area, along with the flow rates from surface and foul water outputs.

It helps if the assets in the area are understood. . . 

. . . location plans were sourced. . . 

. . . invert levels should also be considered. 

This is the more recent of numerous applications we have undertaken on behalf of developers in London. The process does take a while Fees to Thames Water are around £500, and then we would charge time on top of this.

If you need any help with applications to Thames Water or Anglian Water or others, then please get in touch.

Environmental Consultants London 

Site Investigation – Bristol

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Site Investigation – Bristol

Recently Southwest Environmental Limited submitted a  Desktop Study for a site in Bristol, to Bristol City Council for scrutiny. Despite SWEL recommending that the site was fit for use, with no further work recommended BCC were of the opinion, that some further investigations were required. 
BCC were very pragmatic in the scope of these further investigations, and limited the scope to a number of hand dug trial pits, which were then used to ascertain the extent of made ground on site.
The finding were that despite having some made ground in the form of crushed brick under the driveway, the ground under the proposed structure was natural ground.

Brick Footings

Made Ground . . . of Brick

Ordinarily it would be standard practice to take samples and analyse them for a suite of chemicals as part of a Site Investigation . However, in this instance the checks for the presence of made ground, combined with floor slab sub-ventilation were deemed as an appropriate mitigatory measure.

This saved around £5000 in costs, which on a small project would represent a significant percentage of  the overall project value.

Contaminated Land Assessment – Clevedon

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Contaminated Land Assessment  – Clevedon 

Southwest Environmental Limited were approached by a client who wanted to check the ground quality of a site that they were planning to purchase. The site was a petrol station, and as such there was potential for the site to be contaminated.

Typical Petrol Station c. 1960.

All available secondary data was collected in the form of a Desktop Study, and this concluded that it would be prudent to undertake some soil sampling. Samples were taken and tested, and the ground was also checked for any sign of VOCs emanating from hydrocarbons.

These were then used in a quantitative risk assessment for contaminated land .

The reporting was carried out within the allotted time frame, and on budget.

Flood Risk Assessment – Exeter

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Flood Risk Assessment  – Exeter

Southwest Environmental Limited have recently carried out a flood risk assessment for a site in Exeter, Devon. The site was very close to the river exe flood relief channel and as such it was important to establish whether it was indeed possible to build a dwelling at the location that would:

  1. Mitigate Against Flood Risk 
  2. Remain in Keeping with Surrounding Buildings
The problem is that is flood depths are too great then a building ground floor use may have to be limited to no residential use. If neighbouring buildings are “normal” houses then the proposed structure may look out of place, and this can cause problems when in planning .
Topography Indicates a Level Area

The Site is Well Within Flood Zone 3

Flood Depths were Fairly Deep on Site
In this instance SWEL were to prepare a report to set before the Environment Agency for scrutiny outside of formal planning. In this way we can check that the project is viable from a flood risk point of view prior to proceeding with planning proper and all the extra time and expense that that involves. 

Lighting Assessment SSSI

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Lighting Assessment SSSI 

SWEL have undertaken a Lighting Assessment in Rickmansworth, the site is to be developed, and lighting impact were required to be assessed. A thorough baseline study was made with a quantitative assessment of spill.

A  twilight survey was made to identify nearby light pollution sources. 

Riveting – Existing light fittings were surveyed. 

The Lighting Assessment Report was published in good time and was well received by the local planning authority. 

Contaminated Land Advice during Corporate Acquisition

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Contaminated Land Advice during Corporate Acquisition

SWEL were approached by a company in Cardiff who were in the process of selling to a large multi national. The purchaser was seeking to drive down the acquisition cost using poor land quality as justification.

SWEL were called in to justify whether this was the case.

The purchasers had engaged their own consultants to establish ground quality, and it was observed that they were acting in line with appropriate guidance.

The land in question although of lowered quality was suitable for end use / continued use and as such the the price should not have been affected.

Contaminated Land Cardiff

Sunlight Daylight Assessment

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Sunlight & Daylight Assessment – Epsom

Acting on instruction from a repeat client in the Epsom area, Southwest Environmental Limited are undertaking a Sunlight and Daylight Assessment for a prestige development of 2 no. 6 bedroom houses, which occupy the plot of a single smaller dwelling.

The scheme makes very good use of the space available, but unfortunately in the first instance the height of the buildings was a little too great, as it caused loss of daylight to a neighbouring kitchen window that was beyond the loss allowable under BRE 209.

Recommendations were made that involved altering the pitch of the roof, and allowing for a flat roof area, where it would not impact of the character of the property. This reduced overshadowing to the point where, the scheme became acceptable.

The reduction in height did not result in any loss of usable internal space, although it did result in some loss of loft space, which may have been suitable for conversion in the future.


Environmental Consultants London

Ecoli Testing – Sewer Flooding

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Ecoli Testing –  Sewer Flooding

Southwest Environmental have been commissioned to undertake verification testing for the presence of  coliform, post clean up of a sewer spill.

SWEL were contacted by a landlord who was concerned with the persistence of pathogens post clean up of a sewer blockage.

The sewer blockage was caused by an item of clothing becoming lodged in the sewer of the ground floor sewer system of a block of flats, this cause sewer water from the above floors to spill out in to the ground floor flat.

The ground floor flat was flooded to a depth of 2 or 3 inches with sewage emanating from above floors. Significant damage was done to finishing, with staud partitioning and some fiberboard flooring being replaced owing to water damage.

The entire floor area was then steam cleaned and all surfaces treated with a disinfectant. It was at this point SWEL were asked to take samples and acquire results.

The samples were sent for propagation testing at a respected laboratory, so as to deduce cfu (colony forming units) of Ecoli.

These results will then used to inform conclusions of a verification report.

Environmental Consultants London

Flood Risk Assessment – Dorset

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Flood Risk Assessment – Dorset

Acting on instruction from an architects in dorset, SWEL have been commissioned to carry a flood risk assessment, for a barn conversion.

Flood Risk to Barn Conversion

The flood risk assessment will be based on third party data, which will indicate flood depths in the area, and these flood depths will be used to inform decisions relating to finished floor level and safety of occupants.The flood risk assessment will be submitted to North Dorset District Council, who will be required to present the report to the Environment Agency as statutory consultees.

All being well, the EA will agree with the content of the report, and they will not raise an objection. The project will not be subject to the sequential test as it is a conversion.

Flood Risk Assessment