​Impacts of Climate Change on Brownfield Regeneration – Risks and Opportunities                                     27 September at 13:00-14:30 BST, Online panel discussion

An increasing challenge for successfully regenerating Brownfield Land in the UK is shifting weather patterns associated with Climate Change. 

The past five years have seen an increasing trend of hotter, drier summers and milder wetter winters, interspersed with periods of abnormal (often wetter) weather.  The increased frequency and intensity of wet weather creates significant challenges for managing earthworks on brownfield sites including damage to soil structure, contaminated (and uncontaminated) silt run-off and increased fluctuations in groundwater levels. 

Post remediation, brownfield developments are also placing significant additional pressure on our fragile sewage and river systems due to the practice of diverting rainfall away from groundwater infiltration systems (e.g. soakaways) and into the sewage and river systems. 

These changes have wide ranging implications for developers, consultants and contractors alike – from the risk assessment and design stages through to site implementation (to programme / specification) and the potential need for ‘future-proofing’ remediation & earthworks projects in tandem with development levels and drainage for flood protection. 

Whilst there are clear risks, are there also opportunities for the brownfield regeneration industry to help deliver a more sustainable, circular economy – this topic will be explored with our expert panel, held with Brownfield & Regeneration Network premium partner Soilfix. 

Discussion Topics:

• Extremes of rainfall and impacts upon the site, groundwater & river levels – what are the impacts on project / contract delivery, sustainable drainage solutions, flood risk, sewer discharge considerations?
• Risk Assessments – what are the implications of climate change on ‘future-proofing’ and also potentially ‘looking back’?  Are we seeing projects where previous risk-based remediation or flood risk levels are no longer valid?
• Carbon outputs of certain remediation & earthworks techniques – will we reach a point where certain techniques or approaches become redundant?

Chair:

• Steve Jackson, Director, Soilfix

Panellists:

• Matt Timmins, Project Director - Midlands, Harworth
• Matthew Bell, Flood Risk for Planning Lead, Tetra Tech Europe
• Richard Clayton, Strategic Growth Director for Earth & Environment, WSP UK

Purchase the event recording

Become a Brownfield & Regeneration Network member and get free online event access for your whole company.

​Stabilisation and Solidification of Soils – Practical Implementation to Manage Geotechnical and/or Contamination Risks                                          16 August at 13:00 BST, Webinar

Stabilisation and Solidification has become widely applied across the UK and is no longer considered to be an emerging remediation or soil improvement technique, having been applied to a wide variety of contaminants and environmental settings.  However to ensure a successful project outcome, contractors and consultants alike need to carefully consider the most appropriate technique (or combination of techniques) to adopt, and carry out site specific design / treatability studies before implementing the S/S project at the full scale.

In this webinar Brownfield & Regeneration Network Premium Partner and Remediation specialist, Soilfix, will provide a variety of project examples to demonstrate how this technique can be successfully applied to solve a variety of contamination and geotechnical challenges on sites.

Purchase the event recording

Become a Brownfield & Regeneration Network member and get free online event access for whole your company. Learn about membership here.

​Updated Guidance for Monitoring & Managing Ground Gas                                           19 July at 10:00 BST, Online event

This CPD-certified online event, held in partnership with Brownfield & Regeneration Network Premium Partner NHBC, explored new, updated guidance and different approaches to ground gas protection, including radon.

Speakers:

• Karen Thornton, Land Quality Service Manager, NHBC
• Steve Wilson, Technical Director, Environmental Protection Group
• Amy Juden, Associate, Environmental Protection Group
• Matthew Lennard, Principal Geo-Environmental Engineer, NHBC
• Michael Jaggs, Associate Director & Principal Trainer, Building Research Establishment (BRE)
• Justine Gray, Technical Services Manager, Galaxy Insulation

Purchase the event recording

Members can watch the event recording for free. To become a member please visit our website or contact lisa.turner@environment-analyst.com.

If you have already attended and cannot find your on-demand replay link, please contact emily.ridge@environment-analyst.com.

​Strategies for Effectively Assessing & Managing PFAS   Regulatory Updates, Global Approaches & Innovative Solutions to take Meaningful Action                     27 April, 14:00-18:00 BST - Online conference

With both the UK Environment Agency and the US Environmental Protection Agency listing Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as a regulatory priority for 2023, this online conference brought together a range of international speakers involved in developing strategies and technical solutions for the risk assessment and management of this “forever chemical”.

As well as a regulatory update on the UK Environment Agency’s position and the Environmental Protection Agency’s Strategic Roadmap, the conference focused on current approaches and practical solutions for assessing and managing PFAS. Watch the event on-demand and hear the latest thinking and technical innovations being employed globally and register now.

Purchase the event recording (GBP)

Purchase the event recording (USD)

Members can watch the event recording for free. To become a member please visit our website or contact lisa.turner@environment-analyst.com.

If you have already attended and cannot find your on-demand replay link, please contact emily.ridge@environment-analyst.com.

​Incorporating Climate Change Considerations into Contaminated & Brownfield Land Development 25 April at 10-12:00 BST - Online conference

This online conference saw a number of speakers who have been involved in on-going industry research and published guidance consider the impact of climate change on contaminated land risk assessment, remediation and development.

Speakers:

• Linsey Cottrell, Environmental Policy Officer, The Conflict and Environment Observatory
• Helen McMillan, Associate Director and QRA Technical Lead, RSK Geosciences
• Paul Bardos, Managing Director, R3 Environmental Technology
• Peter Atkinson, Lead Geotechnical Specialist Engineer, NHBC
• Richard Lansley, Associate Director, WSP

Purchase the event recording

Members can watch the event recording for free. To become a member please visit our website or contact lisa.turner@environment-analyst.com.

If you have already attended and cannot find your on-demand replay link, please contact emily.ridge@environment-analyst.com.

​The ten principles of good soils and stones management: A cross-sector framework for sustainable resource use 2 March, 13:00 GMT - Webinar

The world is finally waking up to the importance of soils and stones as hugely valuable resources, integral to safeguarding our biodiversity, food supply and climate. Following on from their influential 2021 report, Society for the Environment is harnessing its cross-disciplinary network to influence policy, public opinion, and industry.

“The Ten Principles of Good Soils and Stones Management” provide a clear, straightforward outline of how to use and re-use soils and stones across sectors including construction, resource management, forestry, engineering, and agriculture. This webinar gave an overview of the principles and explore how they offer a much-needed framework for sustainable use of these valuable resources, against which existing legislation and regulation can be reviewed and improved.

Speakers:

• Martin Ballard CEnv, Chartered Environmentalist, Lead of SocEnv Soils and Stones project and Group Head of Environment for Wates
• Rob Earl CEnv, Chartered Environmentalist and Fellow of the Institute of Water

​Waste & Materials Management conference                             24 January, Online conference

Our annual Waste & Materials Management conference explored the best way forward for achieving circular economy and sustainability goals in the management, and re-use, of brownfield and construction waste.

This conference provided crucial regulatory and policy updates on managing the waste and re-use of materials in brownfield remediation & development, insights on managing legal considerations and the WM3 Waste Classification Guidance User Survey, and real-life examples in a series of case study presentations.

View the event agenda and speakers here.

If you would like to purchase the recording of this event, or if you have already attended and cannot find your on-demand replay link, please contact simon.king@environment-analyst.com.

​Perspectives on Tackling the Skills, Resource & Diversity Challenges in the Brownfield Sector 8 November at 10:00 BST, Online panel discussion

The brownfield sector is facing challenges across the board in resourcing and recruiting the people and skills required to fulfil current project requirements and enable growth. Additionally, in a recent survey the wider environmental profession was ranked the second least ethnically diverse sector in the UK.  

Our Brownfield & Regeneration Network panel discussion on 8 November at 10:00 GMT, held in partnership with SiLC, will bring together a diverse panel with a wide range of experiences, to discuss these challenges, including the current approach to recruitment and career development, and explore strategies to attract and recruit a more diverse workforce, and future-proof the sector to better meet changing industry and project demands.

Chair:

• Carrie Rose, Associate Technical Director, Atkins & Chair of SiLC Equality, Diversity and Inclusion subgroup

Panellists:

• James Bickle, Consultant, Delta Simons
• Ethny Childs, Communities & Partnership Lead, Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES)
• Roni Savage, Managing Director & Founder, Jomas

​Remediation & Management of PFAS & Other Emerging Contaminants   14:30-16:30 GMT on 2 November, Online webinar

Building on the discussions from our Groundwater 2022 conference, which focused on updated approaches to the risk assessment & management of PFAS & other emerging contaminants in groundwater, this webinar explored innovative strategies and new techniques for the remediation and management of these contaminants of increasing concern.

Bringing together a range of perspectives, both UK and international, this online session looked at the considerations and approach being taken for different PFAS-contaminated sites, including:

• Key risk drivers, practical concerns, and other questions that often need to be addressed; 
• Developing a robust CSM to best understand where PFAS is present, the source, and likely migration; 
• Deciding the most appropriate response with available solutions and technologies

​Achieving Nutrient Neutrality in Brownfield Development  19 October, Online webinar

Nutrient neutrality is a means of ensuring that a development plan or project does not add to existing nutrient burdens within a catchment or result in a net increase in nutrients received by sensitive habitats downstream. However, this has considerable implications for the planning and development of brownfield sites where it is often harder to provide the necessary mitigation onsite due to spatial constraints or the density of the development. 

In this webinar Simon and Wendy will outline the background to the nutrient neutrality issue, talk about the process of assessment and implications for inclusion of mitigation on site (with specific focus on brownfield sites), with discussion from the Local Planning Authority point of view, explanation of more strategic options, and how things are likely to develop in the next couple of years.  

Speakers:

• Wendy Furgusson, Associate, Environment & Health, Ramboll
• Simon Kennedy, Strategic Environmental Planning Manager, Partnership for South Hampshire

​Ground Gas 2022                                                            4 October, Online conference

This annual conference sees experts from Persimmon Homes, Buro Happold, west Dunbartonshire Council, Environmental Protection Group, Renfrewshire Council. LBHGEO Ground Engineering, NS Training, Development & Assessment Ltd, CL:AIRE and RSK Environment discuss new guidance and practical solutions for improved risk assessment, mitigation and protection verification of ground gas.

Get first-hand insights, policy updates and case study examples on:

• How to ensure you are seeing the real picture - understanding and interpreting continuous gas monitoring data
• Improving the quality of gas protection installation and verification
• Best practice in detailing and designing appropriate gas protection
• Assessing the risk of landfill gas migration for brownfield development

If you would like to purchase the recording of this event, or if you have already attended and cannot find your on-demand replay link, please contact simon.king@environment-analyst.com.

​Regulatory Underfunding and the Drive for Net Zero                              27 September, Online panel discussion

This panel discussion, held in partnership with Soilfix, explored the extent to which an underfunded, under-resourced regulatory system is presenting a barrier to brownfield development through significant delays, increased costs and additional carbon outputs on remediation projects and endeavour to find a possible way forward.

Chair:

• George Evans, Managing Director, Soilfix

Panellists:

• Steve Edgar, Managing Director, VertaseFLI
• Nicholas Invernizzi, Head of Remediation, Berkeley Group
• Richard Moakes, Managing Consultant, Ramboll

​Use of a ‘Carbon Calculator’ Tool to Support Sustainable Remediation Design – A Contractor’s Approach                             6 July, Online webinar

By presenting some case study examples, this webinar will highlight how Soilfix are utilising their bespoke ‘Carbon Calculator’ tool to help inform clients of the remediation option(s) with the lowest potential GHG emissions and the cost vs benefit of adopting alternative approaches, materials & ‘green fuels’.

Speaker:

• Steve Jackson, Director, Soilfix Ltd

​Unlocking Barriers to Deliver Sustainable Brownfield Regeneration                                                        10 June, Online panel discussion

This panel discussion looked at the importance of early engagement and collaboration: involving all parties from the outset, and utilising resources available to de-risk sites and minimise potential delays and unexpected costs. Panellists also discussed how to manage the impacts of rising material costs and the sector skills shortage, and how to effectively incorporate climate change and sustainability goals into brownfield development.

Chair:

• Peter Witherington, Deputy Chairman, RSK Group

Panellists:

• Karen Thornton, Land Quality Endorsement Manager, NHBC
• Richard Hepworth, Group Director of Project Management, Urban & Civic
• Anthony McNichol, Contaminated Land Officer, Stoke-on-Trent City Council

​Groundwater 2022                                                                                     12 May, Online conference

This annual conference explored different emerging contaminants, including PFAS and 1,4-Dioxane, the current regulatory guidance for their risk assessment and management, appropriate monitoring and sampling analysis, and novel remediation techniques being developed to tackle these “forever chemicals”.

Get expert insights from:

• DEFRA
• Jacobs
• Suez
• Manchester Metropolitan University
• British Geological Survey
• Mott MacDonald
• Ramboll

If you would like to purchase the recording of this event, or if you have already attended and cannot find your on-demand replay link, please contact simon.king@environment-analyst.com.

​Exploring the Legal Implications of the Environment Act for Brownfield Planning & Development                                        25 January, Online webinar

In this webinar, Claire Petricca-Riding, Partner and National Head of Planning and Environmental Law at Irwin Mitchell LLP, shares her insights on the legal implications of the act for brownfield planning & development.

Claire outlines how the Environment Act relates to the development sector, the consultations which we expect to see in 2022 starting with biodiversity net gain and whether the much awaited planning reform will bring an added complexity or simplicity to brownfield land redevelopment.

Speaker:

• Claire Petricca-Riding, Partner and National Head of Planning and Environmental Law at Irwin Mitchell LLP