Court (The Charter) Birmingham Ltd

The site was located in an area of historic and current industrial usage, with various works having occupied the site in the past, including an engineering works and a print works and a car dealership.

Intrusive investigation was carried out over three phases as areas become accessible and comprised cable percussive, driven continuous sample and rotary boreholes to depths of between 1.2m and 39.5m bgl and machine dug trial pits up to 3.0m bgl. UXO support was required for part of the site. Boreholes were drilled both internally and externally at an industrial estate, with the first phase in an active part of the site, requiring daily liaison with personnel on site to agree working areas and appropriate fencing and signage to protect people and property from vehicle movements and intrusive works.

Made Ground was encountered up to 4.6m deep, underlain by mixed granular and cohesive Superficial Deposits and Solid Geology of the Sidmouth Mudstone Formation below. Localised hydrocarbon odours were noted, although soil testing identified concentrations below published screening values. Elevated arsenic was detected locally in the soil, together with asbestos fibres. Elevated methane and carbon dioxide concentrations were recorded during monitoring. 

Recommendations included the use of piled foundations and a suspended floor slab, with CS2 gas protection measures. A cover layer was considered necessary in any landscaped areas and the use of sulphate-resistant concrete for buried concrete. Advice regarding classification of soils for earthworks and retaining wall, pavement and infrastructure design were provided.