Developer Guidance

January 2013 - Coal Mining Risk Assessments

As those of you that have recently applied for planning permission in a “coal mining referral area” will know, the Coal Authority have recently become consultees to the planning process, and as such, usually require that a Coal Mining Risk Assessment is submitted, before the Local Authority can determine the application.

Currently GRM have assisted clients from Bristol to Glasgow with the preparation of Coal Mining Risk Assessments and have in some cases been requested to provide follow up advice as to the mitigation required to reduce any likely risks to negligible.

Currently Mining Risk Assessments can be turned round in 5 working days and involve the use of both in-house and external resources.

If you are interested in obtaining a quotation for a Coal Mining Risk Assessment please contact Chris Jerram (chrisj@grm-uk.com) a Director of GRM and a Chartered Geologist with a degree in Mining and Geology and many years of experience in dealing with development sites affected by mine workings.

February 2012 - CL:AIRE – Development Industry Code of Practice

GRM director Bill Peacock and Principal Environmental Scientist Richard Sutton have recently been accredited as Qualified Persons for the above scheme, which encourages the sustainable management of construction waste and development of land. The Code of Practice enables developers and contractors to use and re-use excavated materials on site or at alternative locations without the requirement for often time consuming waste management permit or exemption applications. The Code of Practice has enabled the EA to take a back-seat role in regulating such operations, the proposals and approvals for which are reviewed and approved by a Qualified Person, who submits their declaration to the EA’s register.

GRM are already working on a number of schemes under the Code of Practice which will save their client’s 100’s of thousands of pounds by allowing them to re-use non-hazardous and hazardous waste in safe and sustainable ways with no impact upon the environment or their development programmes. The Code of Practice also enables developers and contractors to open and manage treatment sites known as ‘Hubs’, or ‘Clusters’, from which waste materials or contaminated soils can be treated away from their point of origin before being returned to site as a re-useable product.

If you would like more information on the Code of Practice or are working on projects which you think might benefit from the re-use of materials, please contact Bill Peacock or Richard Sutton at GRM.

http://www.claire.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=210&Itemid=82

July 2011 - Planning Policy Guidance 14 (PPG14) – Development on Unstable Land

Under PPG14, planning applications in coal mining areas are being referred to the Coal Authority.

The Coal Authority have objected to applications that do not have a mining risk assessment and we have seen planning applications refused on this basis. Coal Authority mining reports or conventional ground investigation reports are no longer sufficent to satisfy the requirement for a mining risk assessment.

GRM have produced mining risk assessments for over 20 years and these are being accepted under the new guidance. Where past mining activity poses risk, our team of Chartered Geologists can help and advise with the necessary mitigation measures.

If you would like any further information or would like to discuss a particular application, please do not hesitate to contact us on 01283 551249.

January 2011 - NHBC Standards 2011 Version

You may be aware that the NHBC have issued their updated standards for 2011, effective from 1st January 2011. From this date forward the NHBC will be working to Eurocodes rather than British Standards so you should ensure that your consultants are up to speed with this change.

We would also like to highlight some key changes to chapter 4.6, see below: -Foundation design should be carried out by a consultant engineer experienced in ground improvement techniques and who is independent of the contractor. GRM can fulfill this requirement.The specialist vibro contractor should confirm the adequacy of the site investigation for their designs. This confirmation along with the investigation should be sent to the NHBC before work on site commences. We are writing to vibro contractors to ensure we provide what they require to provide cost effective designs. Recycled aggregates can be used provided sufficient testing has taken place to confirm its suitability. GRM can fulfill this requirement.The definition of soils unfit for vibro has been clarified.Prior to commencement of works the consultant engineer and the specialist contractor must agree in writing, the design objectives and required load/settlement performance of the treated ground. GRM will set up generic agreements with vibro contractors to save time.The testing regime for vibro stone columns is now more extensive and requires agreement in advance with the NHBC. We will set up generic agreements with the NHBC that can be used to save time.The consultant engineer should provide supervision of works at critical stages. We will continue to provide estimated column depths and can arrange to supervise challenging areas. Please contact GRM or the NHBC if further clarification is required. We advise that you should make allowance for the extra time and costs which are likely to occur following these changes.