Bringing Brownfield back to Life

Brownfield land is land that was once occupied for either industrial or residential use but has since fallen into dis-repair or become derelict. The current government, however, is keen to see that more brownfield land is allocated for redevelopment in the future to help in the regeneration of inner city sites and relieve the pressure on the development of the green-belt.

A common and often problematic characteristic of brownfield land is that previous industrial usage has left the land contaminated as a result of a lack of control or knowledge of the substances used and deposited on the land. As our understanding of the chemistry of such sites has improved the removal or clean-up of these chemicals from the site is now seen as a viable way to revitalise and redevelop the area, leading to potential economic opportunities through sustainable development within communities.

As land and property prices in the United Kingdom have increased property developers have been able to make the commercial case for bringing brownfield sites into use, generating economic growth and bringing environmental benefits to the local area. Other advantages are listed below:

• Reclaiming unused land and establishing opportunities for new growth within existing areas allows the government to meet agreed growth targets in areas of the highest population densities where jobs and healthy environments are most required.
• Development of derelict sites preserves the historic and cultural aspects of community identity.
• Re-development working with the support of the local community help drive economic growth and meet residents expectations.
• Remediation of heavily contaminated sites improves the environmental health of the local area, removing potential threats to the well-being of local people.
• Sensitive re-development of previously contaminated sites can lead to a chain of events where neighbours and land owners invest in their local area, creating a feel-good factor leading to further improvements and a much increased sense of happiness and positivity within the local community.

These are just some of the major benefits that show how the work of VHE can help to improve the environment in areas once blighted by uncontrolled industrial development and neglect.

VHE are leading providers of land remediation services across the United Kingdom, including bioremediation, groundwater treatment and soil washing. For more information on any of our services, please do not hesitate to call 01226 320150.