BCU Geotech Report
BCU Geotech Report
BCU Geotech Report
CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION
2. THE SITE
3. PUBLISHED GEOLOGY
4. GROUND CONDITIONS
7. ASSESSMENT OF EARTHWORKS
8. FOUNDATION RECOMMENDATIONS
12. SUMMARY
A previous consultant carried out ground investigations at the site in 1999, 2001 and 2005.
The factual data from these investigations have been made available and are presented in
this report.
2. THE SITE
2.1 Location
A plan of the site is shown on Figure 1.
The A38 forms the western site boundary, beyond which are open fields. To the north of the
site, is an estate road, known as Callister Way, beyond the road is a brewery. To the east
and southeast is the Trent and Mersey Canal.
The site is an approximately rectangular-shaped plot of land with an area of around 10.58
ha. The site falls down approximately 2 m from the north-western boundary to the south-
eastern boundary. The site is divided into two sections by a northeast to southwest trending
drainage ditch. A site access road is present in the north-eastern section of the site along
the side of the drainage ditch. The road has been blocked by steel barriers and concrete
manhole rings. Services are present beneath the road and appear to extend across the site
and adjacent to the drainage ditch.
The site is generally covered by grass and rough vegetation. The southern-most section of
the site is covered by trees and dense vegetation.
The map, dated 1902, shows the site be used as fields with small farm buildings indicated in
the western and eastern sections of the site. A brewery is indicated to the north. By 1924,
The Envirocheck Environmental Database indicates that there are no contaminated land
register entries and notices, hazardous substance consents, radioactive consents or water
industry referrals within a 500 m radius of the site.
There are two recorded integrated pollution control authorisations within a 500 m radius of
the site. These relate to the brewery to the north of the site. There is one recorded pollution
incident to controlled waters within a 500 m radius of the site. This is recorded 400 m to the
east of the site and related to a blocked sewer.
A brook, recorded 49 m to the southeast of the site is described as River Quality C – fairly
good.
There are no current landfill sites within a 500 m radius of the site. There are three former
landfill sites within a 500 m radius of the site. All of these lie the other side of the A38.
Former landfill sites extend from approximately 325 m to the north/northwest of the site. A
former landfill site extends from approximately 500 m from the northern site boundary.
Information from the Envirocheck Environmental Database and the Environment Agency
website indicates that one of them accepted inert wastes (such as brick, tiles, glass, tiles and
soils) between 1966 and 1982. Another is recorded to have accepted industrial wastes
(possibly from the brewery) and a third accepted inert wastes and industrial wastes
between 1920 and 1984.
The Envirocheck Environmental Database identifies the majority of the site to lie on a minor
aquifer of high leaching potential with the north-western section of the site indicated to lie
on non-aquifer strata. The Envirocheck Environmental Database and the Environment
Agency search shows that the site is within an outer groundwater Source Protection Zone
although the source protection zone relates to the Sherwood Sandstone strata at depth
beneath the site. There are over 100 recorded abstraction licences within a 1 km radius of
Based on information within BGS Technical Report WP/95/2, the site lies within an area
where there is a “low-moderate” radon potential, defined as having less than 1% of
dwellings exceeding the action level.
3. PUBLISHED GEOLOGY
Reference to the 1:50,000 solid and drift geology map of Burton Upon Trent (Sheet 140),
published by the British Geological Survey indicates the site to be underlain by superficial
River Terrace Deposits. The underlying solid strata comprise Triassic Mercia Mudstone, with
Triassic Sherwood Sandstone at depth below the Mercia Mudstone.
4. GROUND CONDITIONS
4.4 Groundwater
During the BCU Geotech Limited investigation, groundwater seepages/inflows have been
recorded across the site within the River Terrace Deposits at depths of between 1.35 m and 2.9
m below current site levels (between 44.1 m to 45.7 m AOD). Excavations below the
groundwater encountered ‘running sand’ conditions and the pits collapsed.
Groundwater monitoring at the site indicates that groundwater exists at depths of between 1.65
m and 2.97 m below current site levels (between 44.75 m to 45.45 m AOD). The groundwater
conditions are based on observations made at the time of the fieldwork. It should be noted
that groundwater levels may vary due to seasonal and other effects.
Part IIA of the Environmental Protection Act (1990) states that “Contaminated Land is any
land which appears to the local authority in whose area it is situated to be in such a
condition, by reason of substances in, on or under the land, that –
(a) significant harm is being caused or there is a significant possibility of such harm being
caused; or
(b) pollution of controlled waters is being, or is likely to be caused;”
All risk assessments carried out as part of this investigation have been carried out with
respect to the definition of “contaminated land” within Part IIA of the Environmental
Protection Act (1990) and have considered the site both before and on completion of the
development.
Analytical laboratory analyses have been undertaken to confirm the presence, of potentially
hazardous substances identified by the desk study researches, site reconnaissance and
following inspection of the ground conditions revealed during the investigation. The
rationale for BCU Geotech Limited sampling and testing is set out in an Appendix (not
included here).
The conceptual site model used in this assessment is presented in the Table.
No visual or olfactory evidence of contamination has been identified during the ground
investigation.
Reference to Table 1 indicates that, within the soils, priority contaminants are below the
generic assessment criteria.
Reference to Table 2 indicates that within the soils, the priority contaminants can be
considered to be relatively immobile. However, locally water leachable copper exceeds the
relevant Environmental Quality Standard (EQS).
No significant quantities of putrescible material have been identified within the Made
ground at the site and the site is not within an area where precautions against the ingress of
radon gas are required in new dwellings.
Alluvial soils are present beneath the site and include localised horizons of organic and
peaty materials. Substantial peat deposits are capable of producing methane, although only
in negligible volumes and at very low flow rates. Very small volumes of peat have been
recorded at the site within thin, discontinuous horizons. It is not possible for such small
volumes of organic material to generate significant emissions at the surface. Research data
within CIRIA Report 149 (1995) shows that, in the U.K, development has occurred on former
wetland areas without any apparent incident or problem from methane and associated
gases. The alluvial soils beneath the site, are therefore, considered not to be a potential
source of significant soil gas generation.
Three former landfill sites are recorded within a 500 m radius of the site, the nearest of
these being approximately 325 m to the north/northwest of the site. Based on the materials
deposited at the former landfill sites, they are considered as a potential source of soil gas
generation.
Reference to Table 3 indicates that potential contaminants are generally present within the
groundwater beneath the site at concentrations below the relevant environmental quality
guidelines.
However, elevated levels of selenium are present within the groundwater beneath the
eastern-most section of the site, with the highest concentrations recorded on the eastern-
most site boundary. No potential source of selenium has been identified with the site’s
previous usage and no significant concentration of selenium has been identified within the
soils beneath the site. Due to the direction of groundwater flow beneath the site and due to
the area where selenium has been recorded it is considered likely that the selenium has
migrated on to the site from an off-site source. It is therefore considered that there is a
negligible risk to controlled waters associated with the site in its current condition and this
will not change following development.
Gas monitoring undertaken at the site has not recorded any methane beneath the site and
no significant flow rates have been recorded. Locally, carbon dioxide has been recorded
with maximum concentrations of 4.8 %. It is therefore considered that the proposed
development should not be constrained by issues relating to soil gases and soil gas
precautions should not be required within the proposed structure at this site.
Any surplus Made Ground materials and organic natural materials (topsoil and alluvial soils)
will require to be taken to a site that accepts “non-hazardous” waste, as it will not be
accepted as “inert” waste due to total organic carbon concentrations. The tarmac surfacing
from the former access road should be taken to a recycling facility.
7. ASSESSMENT OF EARTHWORKS
It is understood that the finished floor level for the proposed structure is 47.52 m AOD and that
to achieve the proposed finished floor level, site levels will be raised beneath the building
footprint. There will also be a requirement to cut materials from the northern part of the site.
The results of the geotechnical laboratory testing undertaken on the materials in the
northern section of the site indicate that it may be possible to re-use these materials as
earthworks fill in an as-dug condition. However, it should be noted that, due to the
relatively high silt content, these materials are very sensitive to moisture content change
and trafficking. If exposed to inclement weather, these soils can rapidly soften and become
unsuitable as earthworks material. The shallow materials from the northern section of the
site are considered to fall into “Class 2C”, materials as defined in the Specification for
Highway Works 1994.
Due to proposed finished levels, there may be a requirement to import materials. It should be
noted that, if materials used to raise site levels are imported from another site, these materials
may be classified as a waste. If the materials are classified as a waste, there will be a
requirement to obtain a waste management license exemption for the site. Prior to importing
materials to site, earthworks testing should be carried out on the materials to confirm the
suitability for use as an earthworks material and the suitability for use beneath the building.
Analytical testing will also be required to confirm that the materials meet the requirement of
the waste management license exemption.
8. FOUNDATION RECOMMENDATIONS
8.1 Foundations
It is understood that the finished floor level for the proposed structure is 47.52 m AOD and that
the minimum foundation level will be approximately 46.47 m AOD. Dock-levellers are proposed
along the southwestern corner of the structure and, in this area, a minimum foundation level of
45.42 m AOD will be required.
It is considered that it should be possible to support the proposed structure on conventional pad
and strip foundations taken into the shallow River Terrace Deposits.
The recommended parameters for the foundation design are as follows:
Foundation Strata : Medium dense sands and gravels - River Terrace Deposits
Foundation Depth : Minimum foundation depth of 0.9 m, deepened, through the alluvial and
peat deposits, as required. Foundations should be taken no more than 300 mm into the River
Terrace Deposits to avoid groundwater ingresses and excavation instability
Nett Allowable Bearing Pressure: 150 kN/m2
It is considered that total settlement of foundations designed on the above basis should be
less than 25 mm.
A drainage ditch runs beneath the proposed structure and there will be a requirement to divert
the ditch away from the building and backfill the existing ditch prior to construction. The ditch
should be backfilled using suitable granular materials and flows into the granular materials
diverted to the new ditch.
Generally, all formations should be placed wholly within the same material type, unless
specific geotechnical inspection and assessment have been undertaken. Care should be
taken to ensure that any field drains encountered are carefully and satisfactorily blocked to
prevent water seeping through the drains and into any excavations.
The locations of any trial pits undertaken as part of this investigation should be accurately
surveyed in order that their precise locations are known and that appropriate precautions
can be taken when building over or near to these locations.
Groundwater inflows should be anticipated at depths of between 1.35 m and 2.9 m below
current site levels. Excavations below the groundwater are unlikely to remain stable, and
‘running sand’ conditions may be encountered. If deep excavations are required, the use of
temporary sheet piles may be required to support short excavations and restrict
groundwater ingress. If long excavations are proposed, well point dewatering may be used
as an alternative to sheet piles.
BCU Geotech Ltd – Burton Site 11 | P a g e
Well point dewatering will lower groundwater levels and improve excavation stability. It
should be possible to discharge the abstracted water to the brook to the south of the site,
but it is likely to be necessary to pass the water through a series of interceptors/traps to
ensure that water is free of fines before disposal to the brook.
Based on their published policy, the Environment Agency is unlikely to object to the use of
soakaways at the site for roof and hardstanding drainage, although there may be a
requirement to provide an interceptor drain in car parking areas prior to discharge to
soakaways/swales or the diverted ditch.
Percolation testing undertaken in the north eastern section of the site indicates the shallow,
River Terrace Deposits strata to have soil infiltration rates (as defined in BRE 365, 1991) of
between 1.6 x10-5 m/s and 4.3 x10-5 m/s. However, on the basis that the soil infiltration rates
have been estimated from data based on filling the test pit only once, it is recommended that
the design infiltration rate be reduced. It is therefore considered that soakaway drainage within
the River Terrace Deposits strata at the site be designed on the basis of a maximum soil
infiltration rate of 1×10-5 m/sec. It should be noted that any proposed drainage layout should
allow at least 5 m between soakaways and buildings. Soakaways should not be constructed
in ground where the water table reaches the bottom of the soakaway drainage system.
It is considered that the proposed development will not be constrained by issues relating to
contaminated land or soil gases and no that remedial works will be required to permit
development.
It is understood that to achieve the proposed finished floor level, site levels will be raised
beneath the building footprint. There will also be a requirement to cut materials from the
northern part of the site. It may be possible to re-use the materials from the northern part of
the site as earthworks fill in an as dug condition. However, due to the relatively high silt
content, these materials are very sensitive to moisture content change and trafficking and, if
exposed to inclement weather, these soils can rapidly soften and become unsuitable as
earthworks material.
There may be a requirement to import materials. It should be noted that, if materials used to
raise site levels are imported from another site, these materials may be classified as a waste. If
the materials are classified as a waste, there will be a requirement to obtain a waste
management license exemption for the site.
It is considered that it should be possible to support the proposed structure on conventional pad
and strip foundations taken into the shallow River Terrace Deposits above the groundwater.
Ground bearing floor slabs will be possible for this site, provided that any fill materials are
placed and compacted in a controlled matter.
The use of soakaway drainage should be possible for this site, within the River Terrace Deposits
strata, and can be designed using a maximum soil infiltration rate of 1×10-5 m/sec.
TABLE 1
FIGURES
Information from previous ground investigations, carried out by A Consultant for the Environment Limited, was made available. This Appendix
presents a selection of the information provided and includes exploratory hole location plans, exploratory hole records, soil and groundwater
analytical test results, soil gas monitoring records and geotechnical laboratory test results.
APPENDIX IV
Trial Pits
Twenty trial pits, denoted as TP105-TP113, TP117-121, TP126, TP130 and TP131, were excavated by a JCB 8060 tracked excavator between 23
and 26 October. The trial pit records from the investigation are presented in this Appendix and these records include the descriptions and
depths of the strata encountered, together with sample depths, groundwater observations and other pertinent comments.
Boreholes
Three light cable percussion boreholes, denoted as BH101, BH102 and BH104, were sunk by Site Investigations Limited, between 24 and 25
October, to between 7 m and 7.5 m. On completion, water monitoring standpipes were installed in boreholes BH101 to BH105 to depths of
between 7 m and 7.5 m. Disturbed samples were taken for descriptive and geotechnical testing purposes. Standard Penetration Tests were
carried out at regular intervals to provide data on the in situ density of granular strata and an indication of strength within cohesive strata. The
borehole records from this investigation are presented in this Appendix. These records include the descriptions and depths of the strata
encountered, together with sample depths, groundwater observations and other pertinent comments.
BCU Geotech Ltd – Burton Site 25 | P a g e
Soil Samples
All samples for analytical testing were collected in appropriate containers, stored in cool boxes (where appropriate) and sent to the testing
laboratory overnight.
Groundwater Sampling
Water samples were taken, in accordance with NRA R&D Note 126, on 19 November from the
borehole standpipes. Details of the groundwater sampling and associated water levels measured are presented in this Appendix, together with
permeability calculations.
On site water quality testing was undertaken to determine the following parameters:
• pH
• Conductivity
• Redox Potential
• Temperature
• Dissolved Oxygen
The results of the water quality testing are presented in this Appendix.