GeoCon Site Investigations Ltd

We provide specialist services to the environmental and geotechnical industry across a variety of sectors including but not limited to, property and commercial building development; due diligence, land sale & acquisition; infrastructure (pipelines, highways, bridges, tunnels), rail, renewables and flood defence.  Our core services are listed below.

Established in 2007, GeoCon have provided our expert services to clients across the UK on thousands of sites. Our highly professional team of consultants and contractors specialise in environmental & geotechnical (geoenvironmental) site investigations projects within the construction and civil engineering industry, with a focus on environmental consultancy, ground engineering and engineering geology for Brownfield and Greenfield land.

Phase I Site Investigation or Preliminary Risk Assessments as they are technically termed (desk studies) are prepared by our environmental consultants to gain a profile of a site to establish its environmental setting including the site history, geology, topography, hydrology, hydrogeology, mining history, and nearby landfill sites.

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) encourages the use of sustainable drainage systems where suitable, for new developments and construction work. GeoCon undertake Soakaway Investigations to provide and advice on whether sustainable drainage will be suitable or not in the first instance, and where appropriate provide infiltration rates to facilitate Soakaway design.

Phase 1 – Site Investigation, Desk Studies or Preliminary Risk Assessments. This is the minimum requirement for a developer under the planning process and some sites (typically green field sites or sites with very limited previous development) can be dealt with by a Phase I alone without the need for any further work. In this phase, a Conceptual Site Model (CSM) is created to identify pollutant linkages via source pathway and receptor to establish any potential risks from contamination with respect to human health, groundwater and the wider environment. With the CSM a detailed preliminary assessment of a sites environmental setting can be established.

Phase 3 Remediation. Following the results of the Phase II Site Investigation, some sites will be deemed contaminated with respect to the proposed end use and therefore require remediation to make the site suitable for use. Whilst GeoCon are not a remediation contractor, we do provide advice on how to remediate the site. GeoCon prepare remediation strategies (remediation statements) which are then used as a document to advise on the most appropriate method of remedial action.

Phase 4 Validation. If a site is deemed contaminated and remediation is required, GeoCon offer validation support whereby our team of environmental consultants will validate all works to provide evidence to the Local Planning Authority (LPA) to confirm that the remediation activities have been carried out correctly and in accordance with the remediation strategy. This is typically via a watching brief, sampling and analysis and provision of a validation report which would include records and photographic evidence to support the process. On complex sites or with respect to groundwater contamination alternative methods would be used.

Soakaway testing, often referred to as percolation testing or infiltration testing, is carried out to support sustainable drainage design for a development or construction project, whereby under current legislation surface water should be discharged in a sustainable manner to reduce the impact on existing sewage systems which in some cases can be over a hundred years old and originally were not designed to meet the demands of todays population and housing increase. Soakaway testing is carried out in accordance with current guidance to provide infiltrations rates to allow drainage engineers to design soakaways for new building and construction projects.

GeoCon have carried out site investigations for all types or property development including residential, commercial and industrial development. Typically Phase I Site Investigation (Preliminary Risk Assessments / Desk Studies) followed by Phase II Site Investigations are undertaken to determine any risk from contamination and also facilitate foundation design. Please call now for assistance with your project.

Similar to property development Phase I and Phase II site investigations are carried out on land prior to its sale to ensure there are no issues with a site and to ensure the seller receives maximum values for their land and the buyer understands any potential concerns which may render the property not worth investment. It is vital that both parties understand any potential issues with any piece of land and this due diligence process is essential when buying or selling land.

GeoCon conduct ground investigations for infrastructure such as pipe lines, electric cables, sewer networks etc, for a range of clients including utility providers, main contractors, and civil engineers to facilitate the design and implementation of such infrastructure. Please enquiry within for any projects that require ground investigations services.

GeoCon specialise in ground investigation services for highways, bridges and tunnels, and have been involved in several major highway and bridge projects, which include major road improvements, highway widening schemes, retaining wall schemes, and brand new proposed highways. We have recently carried out a site investigation for a tunnelling project in Sevenoaks, Kent.

GeoCon are currently working with a number of wind turbine installers and have a range of clients within this sector. We specialise in ground investigations from a range of turbine sizes from small turbines for domestic properties, to medium sized turbines, and the larger turbines, and entire wind farms. With our knowledge of these type of site investigations including difficult terrain and remote locations, we have a vast level of experience and are confident we can offer your company the right solution for your project.

GeoCon undertake ground investigations for flood defence schemes on behalf of major clients and the environment agency to facilitate subsequent flood defence design. Recent projects include Leeds FAS, Paul Flood Defense, Hull and Owston Ferry Flood Defence Scheme.