With available building space at a premium in the UK, there has been an increasing push to convert disused brownfield land into new housing. However, this land can be contaminated due to previous use, meaning extra care must be taken when looking to develop it. Here, Dave Bradshaw, monitoring manager from Mabey Hire, explores the role environmental monitoring can play.
Brownfield land, defined as land that has previously been developed upon but is no longer in use, is prevalent throughout the UK. In fact, in the 2023 Scottish Vacant and Derelict Land Survey (SVDLS) there was found to be 7,325 hectares of derelict land in Scotland, with unused structures present but the land able to be used for other purposes.
These large brownfield plots can be the location of decommissioned or demolished chemical factories or gas towers. Today, they present the opportunity to build the new affordable housing we so desperately need, as well as allowing greenfield spaces to remain protected for nature to thrive.
However, one of the issues with building upon brownfield land is the potential for ground contamination, caused by waste material or residue from the previous structure. Once excavated these contaminants can be released back into the air. To make matters worse, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are invisible to the naked eye and can even be odourless, making them difficult to detect without specialist equipment.
Whilst these gases don’t pose a serious threat to people’s health at lower levels, as they dissipate into the atmosphere they can create an unpleasant smell, which could result in complaints from people living near to the worksite. In higher concentrations, they can affect the health of those working on site and local communities. It is here that monitoring solutions can form an early warning system, alerting site crews to the presence of excess VOCs, allowing them to tent off and safely filter the gases away.
With this in mind, environmental monitoring is key for contractors who are performing groundworks excavations, where overturned dirt can potentially release VOCs. By utilising an effective environmental monitoring system, such as Mabey Hire’s Enviroguard, site teams can ensure that levels remain at acceptable parameters. This is not only crucial to protect workers and nearby residents, but also to stay compliant with regulations such as Section 61 of the Control of Pollution Act 1974. Section 61 details the allowable limits for noise and site working hours, as well as atmospheric pollution.
To ensure the value of environmental monitoring is maximised, it should be implemented as early as possible, allowing a baseline reading to be set from a worksite, before equipment arrives and work begins. This allows the system to differentiate between the gases normally in the air and those released by construction works. By positioning sensors around the site boundary, as well as near to any buildings that could be affected – like homes, shops, offices or hospitals – contractors can benefit from accurate, real-time data on the VOCs released.
It’s clear that environmental monitoring is an essential aspect of any construction project, especially when working on brownfield land, where work can impact the surrounding area. Used correctly, environmental monitoring can demonstrate a contractor’s consideration of the environment, local residents and relevant legislation, committing to responsible construction practices. This can also showcase a proactive approach to Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) targets, with ESG increasingly becoming a key consideration for construction contractors.
By using an effective and accurate monitoring solution, these targets can be easily met, with expert suppliers, such as Mabey Hire, providing the monitoring equipment and expertise needed to create a tailor-made solution.
• Find out more about Mabey Hire’s environmental monitoring, here: https://www.mabeyhire.co.uk/engineered-solutions/our-products/monitoring/environmental-monitoring
