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Remediation Services

Like most industrial societies, we have a considerable legacy of brownfield sites affected by contamination caused by past landuse land that would have great redevelopment potential if only the risks it may pose to human beings or the environment could be eliminated. Real or perceived remediation costs can act as a significant barrier to successful redevelopment, particularly if contamination issues and their solutions are not clearly identified early and are not integrated into the development scheme of a site from the beginning.

Central to the achievement of the government’s objective of achieving sustainable development are urban and rural regeneration. A target of 60% of housing is to be developed on contaminated land. The use of contaminated sites for commercial and industrial purposes is also encouraged.

Developers are responsible for making their sites suitable for the proposed development. This involves a site investigation with adequate data for the preparation of qualitative and quantitative risk assessments to determine whether remediation is required. If significant contamination risks are identified, remediation will be necessary. This will require the agreement of an appropriate remediation strategy with the regulator, the local authority and/or Environment Agency. The remediation works have to be carried out by competent personnel and supervised by independent environmental consultants, who will produce a validation report to document the successful completion of the remediation works

Let METRO unlock the potential of your redevelopment/brownfield site with a comprehensive package of remediation services from site investigation to final sign-off. Whether you are planning an industrial, commercial or residential development, METRO can help you to realise the potential of your site by providing the full range of specialist services, either individually or as an all-inclusive package, from initial site investigation to the final sign-off by local authority and Environment Agency. 

METRO has a well-established track record in all aspects of safe, sustainable and cost-effective demolition and remediation of contaminated sites including the safe removal of any buried structures such as tanks and redundant pipework, and has long provided a complete asbestos service ranging from survey to removal.

Site assessments and remediation

If you are not sure whether your site requires ground remediation, METRO, through collaboration with experienced (independent) environmental scientists, can offer a site risk assessment based on a desktop study or comprehensive site investigation carried out in accordance with current government guidelines as set out in the Model Procedures for the Management of Contamination, CLR 11 (Defra & Environment Agency 2004). Where necessary, this will include the design of an appropriate remediation strategy in collaboration with both local authority and Environment Agency.

Cost-Effective Remediation

METRO offers environmentally sustainable methods of on-site remediation, which have the advantage of avoiding the traditional dig-and-dump and the associated lorry movements reducing the carbon footprint. They eliminate or significantly reduce landfilling, thereby cutting costs to the developer.

Windrowing

Remediation by windrowing is an Environment-Agency approved method of on-site remediation proven to be effective for the remediation of soils contaminated with hydrocarbons and herbicides/pesticides such as atrazine.

This method involves constructing and turning soil piles in order to promote aerobic microbial degradation and evaporation of organic contaminants. The time required for achieving the desired results is variable and depends on several parameters such as soil volume and contaminant concentration. Successful windrowing can reduce the level of the above contaminants to levels which are no longer significant, and thereby significantly reduce or eliminate the need for removing material to landfill. Windrowed soils can be re-used on site in non-sensitive locations such as access roads, hard standing and parking areas or under buildings. 

Envirobind

Envirobind is suitable for the remediation of most pollutants, including hydrocarbons and inorganic contaminants such as metals, and can be applied to the majority of soil types found in Britain. METRO Envirobind consists of a cementitious mix that is added to the soil on site on site to stabilise and solidify it, sealing the contaminants into the mix in the process. As a result the contaminants are no longer mobile and will not pose a risk to groundwater or surface water. This process removes the need for off-site disposal. Treated soils can be re-used on site; any surplus material will qualify for disposal in a lower and thereby cheaper waste category. METRO Envirobind has a proven track record worldwide. In Britain Stabilisation methods are being promoted by WRAP and the Environment Agency. By comparison with conventional remediation techniques, METRO Envirobind is a relatively fast and cost effective process.

Remediation Validation

To complete the rehabilitation of your redevelopment site, METRO, through collaboration with experienced (independent) environmental scientists, can provide comprehensive remediation validation reports as well as groundwater- or gas monitoring if required, and obtain the final sign-off for your site. 

Peace of Mind

Throughout all stages of the remediation process, METRO will liaise with all relevant regulators and stakeholders such as local authorities, the NHBC and the Environment Agency to ensure a smooth, successful and cost-effective process to allow you to complete your development on time.