When do you need a Phase 1 Desk Study?

When do you need a Phase 1 Desk Study?

If you are planning to develop a site, whether it is a large-scale commercial development, a residential development, or an extension to an existing property,  you will generally need to complete a Phase 1 Desk Study as part of your planning application. But when is the ideal time to get the phase 1 desktop report?

A Phase I Desk Study is normally carried out at the start of the site investigation process. The Phase 1 Desktop report can be completed before the site is purchased or when the site is purchased and the planning application for development is in the initial stages of preparation.

Property Transactions (Due Diligence)

The Phase 1 Desktop Report can be completed as part of the Due Diligence property transaction process, i.e. before you purchase the site/property or once the land or existing property is purchased. The Phase 1 Desk report will inform you of the associated risks involved with the specific development site and can also highlight what further site investigations will be required and if necessary the remediation steps that may be needed.

Completing a Phase 1 Desktop study before you purchase a site is a prudent step. The report will ensure you are fully aware of all the potential risks involved before you have committed to the site’s development. Having an understanding of any potential contaminants, unstable ground conditions, potential flooding issues, etc before you purchase is a wise move to ensure there are no unknown issues that could prove costly and not budgeted for.

A preliminary risk assessment from a phase 1 Desk Report can help to determine if a development scheme is viable.

Developing a Site

A Phase 1 Desk Study can also be completed once you have acquired the site /property. Frequently Phase 1 Reports are completed not just to inform the developer of the risks, but also to satisfy requirements of different regulatory bodies, e.g. Planning Departments, Environmental Health Departments, the Environment Agency, Building Control Departments, and National House Building Council (NHBC).

The Phase 1 Desk Report may be a requirement in the Planning Conditions set out by the Local Authority Planning Department. The information detailed in the Phase 1 Desk Study may be required to satisfy regulatory bodies that your site development will not have associated risks.

What is a Phase 1 Desk Study?

A Phase 1 Desktop Study is a preliminary risk assessment that highlights the potential areas of concern of developing on the proposed site. The report will collate and review a wide range of published information about the specific site to gain detailed information of the development site’s historical, geological and environmental location.

Phase 1 Desk studies are also known as:

• Phase 1 Desktop Study
• Phase 1 Desktop Report
• Phase 1 Contamination Report
• Preliminary Risk Assessment
• Phase 1 Geo-Environmental Study
• Phase 1 Ground Investigation