Site Investigations

Earth Environmental & Geotechnical provides an extensive range of Site Investigation Services for clients to inform construction designs and satisfy conditions for planning applications, building control departments, The Environment Agency. Subsurface site investigations are conducted to establish ground conditions and composition of the ground beneath a development site before construction starts.

Site Investigations by Earth Environmental & Geotechnical Ltd

Comprehensive Site Investigations Across the UK

At Earth Environmental & Geotechnical Ltd, we specialise in delivering comprehensive site investigations to ensure the success of your construction and development projects. With extensive experience in geotechnical site investigations, we provide detailed insights into ground conditions, helping you make informed decisions and ensuring compliance with UK regulations.

Whether you are in the planning stages of a construction project or need environmental assessments, our site investigation services are tailored to meet your specific needs.

What is a Site Investigation?

A site investigation is a critical process that assesses the condition of the soil, rock, groundwater, and man-made features below a site. This provides essential information about the suitability of the site for construction, identifying any potential risks or hazards such as contamination, unstable ground, or underground obstructions.

Our expert team uses state-of-the-art technology and proven methods to carry out geotechnical investigations, delivering accurate data to guide your project safely from planning to completion.

Why Are Site Investigations Important?

Site investigations are crucial for several reasons:

  • Risk Mitigation: Identify and mitigate potential ground risks, including subsidence, soil contamination, and water table issues.
  • Cost Control: Avoid unexpected costs by understanding the ground conditions before construction begins.
  • Regulatory Compliance: Ensure that your project complies with environmental and planning regulations.
  • Project Efficiency: Accurate data leads to informed decisions, reducing delays and avoiding structural issues in the future.

Our Site Investigation Services

At Earth Environmental & Geotechnical Ltd, we offer a comprehensive range of site investigation services tailored to meet the needs of various industries, including residential, commercial, and industrial developments. Our services include:

1. Geotechnical Site Investigations

Geotechnical investigations provide detailed information about the soil and rock conditions at a site. We offer a full range of services, including:

  • Borehole Drilling
  • Trial Pitting
  • Soil and Rock Sampling
  • In-Situ Testing (CPT, SPT, Vane Shear Tests)
  • Geophysical Surveys

2. Phase 1 Desk Study

A Phase 1 Desk Study involves a review of historical and environmental data about the site. This non-intrusive investigation provides essential background information to identify potential risks before intrusive investigations are carried out.

3. Phase 2 Site Investigations

If a Phase 1 Desk Study highlights potential risks, a Phase 2 Site Investigation will be conducted to gather detailed data through fieldwork and laboratory analysis. This includes:

  • Soil Sampling and Analysis
  • Groundwater Monitoring
  • Contamination Testing
  • Geotechnical Laboratory Testing

4. Contaminated Land Assessments

Our contaminated land assessments identify and evaluate potential risks associated with land contamination. We provide remediation strategies to ensure safe and compliant development.

Our Process for Site Investigations

Our site investigations are carried out in several key stages to ensure a thorough and accurate assessment of the ground conditions:

  1. Initial Consultation: We assess your project requirements and provide a tailored investigation plan.
  2. Desk Study: Review of historical data and previous reports.
  3. Intrusive Investigation: Boreholes, trial pits, and sampling to gather detailed ground data.
  4. Data Analysis: Laboratory testing of soil and rock samples.
  5. Reporting: A comprehensive report detailing the findings, along with recommendations for next steps.

Why Choose Earth Environmental & Geotechnical Ltd?

At Earth Environmental & Geotechnical Ltd, we bring together expertise, cutting-edge technology, and a commitment to quality. Here’s why we are the trusted partner for site investigations:

  • Experienced Team: Our geotechnical engineers and environmental specialists have decades of experience in the field.
  • Advanced Equipment: We use the latest geotechnical testing equipment and techniques to deliver reliable data.
  • Tailored Solutions: We understand that every project is unique, so we provide bespoke solutions that match your specific site conditions and project requirements.
  • Comprehensive Reporting: Our clear and detailed reports provide actionable insights to ensure your project is safe, compliant, and cost-effective.

FAQs About Site Investigations

What is involved in a site investigation?

A site investigation typically includes a desk study, intrusive investigations (such as boreholes or trial pits), and laboratory analysis of soil and rock samples. The goal is to gather data on ground conditions to inform the design and construction process.

How long does a site investigation take?

The duration of a site investigation depends on the size and complexity of the site. A simple investigation might take a few days, while larger or more complex sites can take several weeks.

How much does a site investigation cost?

Costs vary depending on the scope of the investigation, the methods used, and the complexity of the site. Contact us today for a free quote tailored to your project.

Contact Us Today for Reliable Site Investigations

Need a thorough and professional site investigation for your next project? Contact Earth Environmental & Geotechnical Ltd today. Our team is ready to assist with any size project, providing reliable data and expert advice to ensure your project’s success.

Call us on Tel: 0161 975 6088 or email us at : headoffice@earthenvironmental.co.uk to discuss your site investigation needs.

Alternatively, you can fill out our online enquiry form, and one of our experts will get back to you as soon as possible.

Subsurface Site Investigations are required to get a full understanding of what you are building on. The first stage in the process is the Phase 1 Desk Study. The results of the phase 1 Desk study combined with the Preliminary Development Design Proposal will inform what Site  Investigations are required next.

Site Investigation services include subsurface exploration and laboratory analysis to establish ground conditions for development sites.  These Site Investigation techniques include trial pits, rotary drilling, and window & windowless sampling and cable percussive boreholes

Any site investigation should ideally follow the development of a site walkover survey and desk-based study (Phase I Desk Study) using readily available publically archived information (historical, environmental, mining etc) that allows for a cost effective strategy to be implemented. The defined scope of work within any preliminary investigation is paramount for a successful project to be completed, the old adage “you pay for a site investigation whether you have one or not”, is commonly quoted to clients!

All site investigations are conducted in accordance with strict and well-defined health and safety practices with site-specific method statements and risk assessments provided. Prior to commencement on-site service (gas sewers, electricity etc.) information is acquired from the client (or its agents) with utility tracing conducted, if required.

Many site investigations are conducted to discharge planning conditions and our staff always ensure, time permitting, that prior to delivery of a costed proposal an outline of the proposed works are initially discussed with the regulatory authorities.

Our staff have extensive experience in the design of geotechnical, mining, and environmental site investigations in accordance with current best technical practices and planning guidance.

The site investigation services required will depend on the specifics of the site being developed including the known, strata of the area, if the site is in a coal mining area, the groundwater conditions, and potential contaminants. The known ground conditions will determine what Site Investigation techniques are most appropriate for the specific site and the proposed development. The term ‘ground conditions’ generally refers to the geology, hydrology, soil condition and any contamination of the ground on the site of a construction project. Ground conditions may be naturally occurring, man-made, or, frequently a combination of the two.

In-house drilling rigs are wherever possible used for drilling work, with approved quality sub-contractors used for projects (where necessary).

Examples of sites we have investigated are:

  • Renewable Energy sites including solar farms, wind farms and Battery storage facilities
  • Fuel Retailing Facilities as part of portfolio divestment strategies and planned re-development.
  • Unlicenced tips with ground gas and contamination issues
  • Victorian housing estates
  • Breweries and alcohol distillery facilities
  • Cotton mills with gasometers and infilled reservoirs
  • Infilled canal sites with contaminated sediments
  • Bleach works
  • Ship building yards
  • Bulk fuel depots and blending facilities with oil spills and offsite impacts.
  • Greenfield sites with poor ground conditions associated with compressible soils and settlement issues.  Former animal burial sites and fuel storage facilities within agricultural holdings.
  • Former colliery sites with mine shafts, bell pits, adits and shallow pillar and stall workings beneath proposed development.
  • Railway cuttings and embankments with slopes stability issues associated with relict geological slip surfaces and impacted by vegetation together with nearby construction activities.
  • Landfill sites for assessment of hydrogeological risk assessment, gas migration studies, installation of monitoring boreholes, evaluation of settlement characteristic’s for surface structures on waste mass, design of earthworks and use of lining materials.
  • Quarries as part of reserve assessment, hydrogeological and slope stability assessments.
  • Foundries where tipping and waste handling practices have posed soil, ground gas and ground gas contaminations issues to wider environment and proposed end use.
  • Scrap yards with deleterious materials, PCB, oil, asbestos and metal contamination.
  • Tannery sites with potential pathogens, asbestos, metals, sludges and heavily impacted drainage system.
  • Gas manufacturing works site with a wide range of contamination issues associated with former gas production.
  • Ministry of Defence facilities including bases, airfields and weapons manufacturing complexes.
  • Existing and proposed Cemeteries for assessment of risk posed to environment including hydrogeological assessment.
  • Council owned allotments with legacy of contamination associated with ash based soil conditioner and hydrocarbon spillages.
  • Chemical works including agrochemical plants, aniline works, tar distilleries, battery works.
  • Sewage works where historic practices have resulted in sewage sludges being deposited on site

Earth Environmental & Geotechnical conduct site investigations in accordance with Eurocodes that were introduced into UK design on 31 March 2010 and has invested in equipment and methodologies demanded by the standards. We however believe that high quality site investigations arise as a result of the design, supervision, monitoring and interpretation process rather than the field equipment used.

Site Investigations and Geotechnical Services

Subsurface site investigations are routinely conducted as part of the assessment of the GeoEnvironmental status of a site including any landfill/ground gas issues, soil/groundwater contamination, assessment of mineworkings, hydrogeology, slope stability assessment or to examine geotechnical conditions for a new structure or landform.

Geotechnical site investigations Trial Pits in the UK

Site investigations are commonly required for the following scenarios;

  • Site Pre-Purchase Due Diligence Studies
  • Slope Stability Assessments
  • Contaminated Land Assessment
  • Foundation Design
  • Subsidence Surveys
  • PartIIa Investigation
  • Environmental Monitoring
  • Insurance Claims
  • Asset Surveys
  • Mining Survey
  • Relict foundation and obstruction assessment
  • Ground Improvement Design
  • Remediation Design and Validation
  • Asbestos Soil Risk Assessment
  • Environmental Management Audit
Geotechnical site investigations for new builds Scotland
Geotechnical Site Investigations UK
Site investigation services throughout uk
Site Investigations in Northeast
site investigation using Modular windowless sampling drilling rig
First day of large site investigation on part of former Darwen Paper Mill
Geotechnical site investigations Trial Pits in the UK

Trial Pits

Trial Pits are used for sub-surface site investigations and examination of the soil, rocks and groundwater. Trial pits ideally proceed construction works to determine the geology and the water table of that specific site and are typically between 1 and 4 metres deep.

Rotary Drilling

Rotary drilling is used to collect soil and rock strata samples, or to form deep observation boreholes. Rotary drilling is used for very dense soils and rock to investigate and analyse the sub-surface ground conditions up to a depth of 100m.

Cable Percussive Boreholes

Cable Percussion Boreholes

Cable percussion boreholes can be used to investigate the soil profile to a depth of up to 50m. Different cutting head heads are used for different soil types. Chisel for rock and hard layers, a shell for granular soils and a clay cutter for softer cohesive soils.

Windowless sampling drilling rig

Window Sampling

Window Sampling is used on soft ground and cohesive strata to extract soil, clay or sand samples for geotechnical or chemical analysis. Window sampling is a great technique to recover undisturbed samples for geotechnical and environmental analysis.