Phase 1 Desktop Study

Fast, clear advice to help you make informed development decisions.

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Also known as: Phase 1 Contaminated Land Assessment or Preliminary Risk Assessment

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Our Phase 1 Contaminated Land Assessment service provides essential environmental risk insights to support planning, development, and property transactions — particularly on brownfield land or sites with an unknown past use.

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These non-intrusive assessments identify potential contamination issues early, helping you avoid delays, manage costs, and progress confidently with planning, acquisition, or design.

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What We Do

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✔ Scope the Assessment – We tailor every Phase 1 Desk Study to your site’s development objectives and potential risk profile, considering planning context, end use, and environmental sensitivities.
✔ Desk Research & Data Collation – Gathering historical maps, aerial imagery, geological, hydrogeological, flood and made ground data, plus local authority and Environment Agency records.
✔ Optional Walkover Survey – A site visit by our environmental specialist to identify visible contamination indicators, hazards, and confirm findings from desk research.
✔ Conceptual Site Model (CSM) – Mapping contamination source–pathway–receptor linkages and assessing qualitative risk to determine whether further investigation (Phase 2) is required.
✔ Interpret the Results – We don’t just present data — we translate technical findings into clear, actionable insights to support planning and investment decisions.
✔ Advise on Next Steps – Whether it’s for planning compliance, acquisition due diligence, or early-stage design, we provide practical recommendations on whether further investigation or remediation is needed.

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Typical Outputs

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✔ Preliminary Risk Assessment report (PDF) suitable for planning submissions or transactions
✔ Executive summary written in plain English for easy decision-making
✔ Conceptual Site Model (CSM) diagram and narrative
✔ Planning-ready advice on whether a Phase 2 Site Investigation is required
✔ Recommendations for further work, monitoring, or remediation where relevant