Southwest
Environmental LimitedSouthwest
Environmental Limited| London |
| 02076 920 670 |
| Exeter |
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| Manchester |
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| Bristol |
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A baseline study is a desk based (secondary data) or field study (primary data) that establishes the initial state of a site and its surrounding area prior to any works or development taking place.
Baseline studies are generally undertaken for Environmental Impact
Assessments, but the nature of the study will change depending on which element
of the impact assessment the baseline study is being carried out for. . .
A typical baseline study of a transport assessment might consist of a traffic survey, but it is sometimes possible to use secondary data which is made available from the government surveys of major roads, recent reports, or purchased for a specialist supplier.
If a traffic survey is required then it is important to realise that there are different types of survey, and that the number of survey locations will also change from area to area. For example and automated traffic count might be used on a road, but a manual traffic count may be required for analysis of a junction.
A noise baseline study is typically carried out over a week long period, it is a foundation of a good noise impact assessment . It involves placing 1 or more monitoring devises on or around a potential development site to monitor for "average" noise levels.
It is important to establish a baseline noise level because quite often the proposed development is allowed (for example) 5db (decibels) over the ambient level. And if you do not known what that level is then you will not be able to work out a post development level.
Air Quality Baseline Study
Air quality is a hot topic (at the time of writing - 2016) with many councils insisting on developments being safe places to live with regards to air quality. NOx is a particular problem in Cities. London has a great deal of air pollution, but Glasgow was recently rated the worst city in the UK for Air Quality.
An air quality baseline study is perhaps one of the most difficult to organize because unlike the above mentioned studies, atmospheric pollutants are strongly influenced by the wind and weather, as such it is sometime required that a baseline study be conducted over an entire year period! But for the most part a month is sufficient to satisfy most planning authorities.
Taken from BGS Document: Groundwater prior to the industrial era (before c. 1800) emerged as springs or was taken from shallow wells, whilst the deeper reserves were in a pristine condition. The water first encountered using modern drilling practices would have had compositions reflecting true baseline determined only by geological and geochemical processes. Only rarely is it possible to find such waters because the majority of groundwaters sampled in the present study are derived from aquifers, which have been developed for decades.
The challenge in baseline is to recognise the impact of any human activities over and above the natural baseline in the data sets used. The approach adopted is threefold:
(i) to have evidence of groundwater age
(ii) to extrapolate data series back to an initial time
(iii) to use indicator elements in the groundwater, known to result from human activities. *
*The most probable indicators of human activities are enhanced TOC and N species – especially NO3 – the presence of substances such as agro-chemicals or industrial chemicals. The sets of data are examined for these substances as a clue to the presence of “contamination”, although it is difficult to quantify this. Even where traces of contamination are present, this may have little impact on the overall chemistry of the groundwater.
More recently we also offer ecological baseline studies. Very important to get one these before you start on site!
The below section was written by a machine.
Establishing a robust environmental baseline is the first critical step in any Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). A baseline study provides a detailed snapshot of the existing environment before any development takes place. Without this benchmark, it is impossible to accurately predict, measure, or mitigate the potential impacts of a project. Whether for planning applications or industrial permitting, a high-quality baseline ensures that regulatory decisions are based on sound scientific evidence.
A comprehensive study integrates data from multiple technical disciplines to create a holistic view of the site. Key areas of focus typically include:
In the UK's rigorous planning landscape, baseline data serves as the legal and technical "ground truth." For industrial sites, this data often informs the Site Condition Report (SCR) required for environmental permits. By identifying constraints early—such as sensitive receptors or existing pollution—developers can optimize site layouts and infrastructure designs to minimize environmental friction. This proactive approach is essential for meeting the requirements of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and local authority mandates.
At Southwest Environmental Limited, we bring over 15 years of industry experience to every baseline study we conduct. With a portfolio of 900+ projects across the UK, our team has the technical authority (IES/FGS) required to deliver defensible data that stands up to regulatory scrutiny. From hyper-local Bristol flood data to national-scale energy infrastructure mapping, we provide the evidence base necessary for project success.