Common Services

Desk Studies or Phase 1 Environmental Assessments - usually the first step in the investigation of a site. An initial asessment of potential geotechnical or environmental hazards is made using readily available information such as geological maps, historical OS mapping, environmental databases, mine records etc. This allows an assessment to be made as to whether or not further intrusive investigations are required.

Phase 2 Ground Investigations (Geotechnical or combined Geotechnical/Environmental) - usually carried out once a Phase 1 desk study is available to allow an appropriate investigation to be designed. The investigation will be designed specifically for your site, dependant on the development proposals, the land's past uses, and any requirements laid down by the regulators. The investigation is likely to include boreholes, trial pits or window sample holes allied with an appropriate suite of geotechnical and chemical testing. On many sites a program of gas and groundwater monitoring may continue after the initial works. This results of this investigation will allow subsequent foundation designs, remediation strategies or, where necessary, further investigation schemes to be developed.

Phase 2 Contaminated Land Assessments - following on from a Phase 1 Environmental Assessment, this is an intrusive investigation specifically looking at the risks from contaminated land. The investigation will be designed specifically for your site, dependant on the development proposals, the land's past uses, and any requirements laid down by the regulators. The investigation is likely to include boreholes, trial pits or window sample holes allied with an appropriate suite of chemical testing. On many sites a program of gas and groundwater monitoring may continue after the initial works. This results of this investigation will allow subsequent remediation strategies or, where necessary, further investigation schemes to be developed.

Remediation Validation Works - once a site has been remediated, some form of validation work is usually required. This may include, for example, the hand-digging of test holes to confirm the thickness of capping layer, sampling and testing of soils to confirm that contamination hotspots have been removed, or sampling and testing of imported soils to confirm that they are suitable for use on the site.

Mining Risk Assessments - in areas where mining (usually, but not always, for coal) has taken place, a Mining Risk Assessment is usually required. Initially this will be a desk-based exercise, assessng the risks to the site using sources such as mine abandonment plans, geological maps and historial OS mapping. If a significant risk is identified then recommendations will be made for an appropriate intrusive investigation, probably involving a number of boreholes being drilled.

Foundation Design - Once all the necessary investigations have been carried out, an appropriate foundation is required. GRM enginees will design the most cost-effective foundation solution for your development, and provide suitable drawings to assist in the construction of what is required. If needed

Flood Risk Assessments - nowadays the risk from flooding is a hot topic. A Flood Risk Assessment is often required as part of the planning process for new developments.