Parcel 1, Hellingly, Hailsham, East Sussex
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GRM Development Solutions GRM Development Solutions Laurus House 14 Garden Court First Avenue Tewin Road Centrum 100 Welwyn Garden City Burton upon Trent Hertfordshire, AL7 1BH Staffordshire, DE14 2WH www.grm-uk.com e. [email protected] t. 01283 551249 t. 01707 830213 PARCEL 1, HELLINGLY, HAILSHAM, EAST SUSSEX PHASE 1 SITE APPRAISAL (DESK STUDY) FOR CATESBY ESTATES PLC Project Ref: P9009 Date: July 2019 Prepared for: Catesby Estates Plc Catesby House 5B Tournament Court Edgehill Drive, Warwick Warwickshire CV34 6LG This report has been prepared in accordance with GRM’s Accredited Quality Procedures. If you have any queries regarding this report please contact the project manager in the first instance. Prepared by: Reviewed by: Approved by: Project Manager Sonia Singh George Salloway Siobhan Jackson Chris Jerram BSc (Hons), FGS BSc (Hons) MSc MIEnvSc BSc (Hons) MIEnvSc CGeol FGS (Engineering Geologist) (Acting Senior Geo- (Principal Geo-environmental (Consultant) environmental Engineer) Scientist) [email protected] george.salloway@grm- [email protected] [email protected] uk.com When required in-house geological, geotechnical, environmental, structural and civil staff helped to produce this document. Issue Description of Revision Signature Amended Appendix; missing parcel I Revision A GS information [email protected] www.grm-uk.com GRM/P9009/DS.1.RevA GRM is a trading name of GRM Development Solutions Limited [email protected] www.grm-uk.com TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................... 1 2 PHASE I DESK STUDY AND SITE OBSERVATIONS ............................................ 2 3 PHASE I CONCEPTUAL SITE MODEL................................................................. 11 4 CONTAMINATION / REMEDIATION RECOMMENDATIONS ............................... 12 5 PRELIMINARY GEOTECHNICAL ASSESSMENT ................................................ 12 6 FURTHER INVESTIGATION ................................................................................. 14 7 CONCLUSIONS..................................................................................................... 14 APPENDICES Data Sources, Standard Limitations Appendix A Proposed Development Plan Appendix B Site Location and Boundary Plan Appendix C Site Features Plan / General Site Photographs Appendix D Historical OS Maps Appendix E Historical BGS Borehole Records Appendix F Environmental Data Report Appendix G [email protected] www.grm-uk.com GRM/P9009/DS.1.RevA GRM is a trading name of GRM Development Solutions Limited [email protected] www.grm-uk.com 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 PREAMBLE GRM Development Solutions Limited (GRM) has been appointed by Catesby Estates Plc. (Client) to undertake a Phase I Site Appraisal (desk study). The desk study and site inspection form Phase I of the assessment and allow the geotechnical and geo- environmental setting of the site to be determined and the identification of areas of particular concern that require targeted investigation. This site appraisal is intended to provide information that will assist decision making by identifying potential ground engineering and contamination issues. GRM Standard Limitations of Reporting are provided in Appendix A of this report. The Client proposes to develop the site with residential properties and associated infrastructure in two development parcel areas; this document covers Parcel 1; the western side of the development (Parcel 2 to the east is reported separately; ref: GRM/P9010/DS.1, dated July 2019). The proposed end use for Parcel 1 will include private gardens, soft landscaping, and public open spaces. The Client has provided GRM with an Illustrative Master Plan and a Constraints and Opportunities Plan; both are presented in Appendix B. A Site Location and Boundary Plan is presented in Appendix C 1.2 OBJECTIVES OF THE SITE APPRAISAL The principal aims of the Phase I Site Appraisal (desk study) are as follows: a) Obtain information, from easily accessible sources, about the soil and groundwater conditions within the area of the site. b) Determine the possible ground related geotechnical and contamination hazards within the site boundaries that may affect the proposed development. c) Provide preliminary development recommendations. d) Provide advice on further works required for the cost-effective reduction of risks to the development and procedures likely to satisfy regulators. Whilst every effort has been made to pre-empt the likely requirements of the Local Authority and the Environment Agency, they are likely to have specific requirements that will need to be discussed and addressed at a later date. GRM/P9009/DS.1.RevA 1 [email protected] www.grm-uk.com 2 PHASE I DESK STUDY AND SITE OBSERVATIONS 2.1 INFORMATION SOURCES In addition to the general sources of information listed in Appendix A (i) the Client has supplied the following information that has been used in the assessment of the site: · The location of the site · Proposed Development Illustrative Masterplan (Parcel 1 & 2). · Tree Survey and Constraints Report. · Constraints and Opportunities Plan. 2.2 SITE DESCRIPTION 2.2.1 Geographical Setting The site is located approximately 2.4km north from Hailsham Town and 13km north west of Eastbourne Town Centre. The National Grid Reference (NGR) for the approximate centre of the site is TQ 591 121. The site comprises irregular, roughly rectangular agricultural fields. The site under consideration in this report forms one of two sites (Parcel 1, the western parcel). The site is generally bordered by fields and is located directly to the south west of Hellingly Country Park. The northern boundaries are formed by hedgerow/trees with residential properties beyond, the eastern boundaries by hedgerows/trees with woodland areas including ponds (part of Hellingly Country Park), residential properties and Hailsham House Care Home beyond, the southern boundaries by hedgerows/trees and New Road with a small pond beyond and the western boundaries by hedgerows/trees and another arable field beyond. The topography of the site area generally slopes downwards towards the south east. The highest point of the site being along the northern boundary (28m AOD) and the lowest point noted on the north eastern boundary of the smaller field (18m AOD). Steeper ground is present near to the north eastern boundary where the lowest elevation point was recorded and the ground slopes down towards the site boundary and Hellingly Country Park towards a number of ponds. 2.2.2 Site Inspection Observations The Site Features Plan/General Site Photographs presented in Appendix D illustrate the salient observations made during a site inspection on 10th July 2019. The site covers an area of 16.4ha and is presently used as arable land; however, cattle watering points were observed at various locations around the fields, suggesting it has also been used as pasture land. Most of the site is separated into two fields; one larger one which makes up the majority of the site, with a smaller field located on the north eastern side of the area. In addition to this there are two small areas on the eastern boundary; one of which is overgrown with a dilapidated building present and the second is an area of long grass with a large woodpile (felled trees GRM/P9009/DS.1.RevA 2 [email protected] www.grm-uk.com storage). It should be noted that the overgrown area was not accessible during the walkover. The two larger fields are separated by a row of semi mature and mature trees. At the time of the walkover both fields were cropped with wheat which was typically between 3ft – 4ft in height. The trees identified along the boundary of the site and including the trees separating the two fields included; oak, sycamore, lime, hawthorn, willow, fir, ash, birch, alder and beech. A number of animal tracks were observed across the site, and a potential badger set observed close to the boundary in the north east corner of the site near the country park. A number of services were observed onsite; this includes overhead cables running from the south west boundary to the north west corner, a manhole observed close to the south west boundary (based on slightly stunted growth it is assumed that this runs north south) and a transformer box on utility poles with power cables running into the ground located onsite close to the southern boundary near the entrance onto the site off New Road; the cable route is currently unknown. It should also be considered that additional ground features might have been present, that were hidden from view by the 3ft to 4ft wheat that was growing at the time of the walkover. Significant Features identified during site inspection: Arable land – potential historical pesticide use. Trees and potentially cohesive soils – deepened foundations. Potential badger sets – ecological constraints. Services – require diversion; development constraint. Localised steep ground – potential requirement for retaining structures. Ponds – potential receptor for site derived contamination. Overgrown areas – development/investigation constraint; requires clearance. Derelict building – source of contamination and made ground. 2.3 HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE SITE A review of the available historical Ordnance Survey (OS) maps gives an insight into the development of the site and can highlight potential hazards. Extracts of the maps reviewed are provided in Appendix E. On-site 1875: The site forms parts of various different fields. Two small buildings are noted on-site