Home Builder Awards 2017

Build Home Builder Awards 2017 12 eap aims to provide services that are leading edge, efficient, accurate and punctual; these criteria assist in the process of producing a technical report. Richard notes that the team at Leap are conscious that technical reports are often difficult to access for non-technical readers, so their focus is on making sure that their recommendations are communicated effectively to all stakeholders in a particular project, whether they are funders, developers, regulators or contractors. “By using the very latest assessment and interpretation techniques alongside our vast professional experience and track record in the site investigation industry, we are able to make intelligent assessments of very complex issues, design cost effective, sustainable solutions, and validate the satisfactory implementation of those solutions in a client focussed and considered manner. Richard explains that the majority of Leap’s current workload is centred around the residential redevelopment of both Brownfield and Greenfield sites. “As the demand for housing increases, so does the pressure on increasing the amount of available land and developers are required to consider more and more difficult sites. Complexities can arise from both natural geological risks and from historic man-made (contamination) impacts, requiring a holistic consideration of development risk and an integrated approach to overcoming them. “We are currently working on a number of historic landfill sites, which present both geotechnical issues, from the historic working and filling of soils, and contamination risks, with human health and controlled water risk from the historic uncontrolled filling and subsequent degradation of deleterious materials. Emissions from such sites can impact surrounding properties and the environment, as well as affecting a new build placed on them. As such, they require detailed assessment and costing in order to ensure that they can be developed both safely and commercially. “Leap have recently assisted one national housebuilder in Kent with the appraisal and purchase of a site such as this from a local authority with a view to developing 230 new homes. The work for this included the consolidation of data from previous investigations, further intrusive works and risk assessments for land gas, soil and groundwater contamination, together with costed remedial options appraisals. “The range of exciting and interesting projects we are working on is helping us to attract and retain staff. We operate in a specialist niche market which has a national shortage of new and existing potential recruits. The work that our specialist teams complete is often both physically and mentally challenging. We invest a lot of time and effort into developing careers for engineers, geologists and environmental scientists, from training and development trips - such as our 2016 trip to Iceland - and continuing professional development courses and seminars, to internal knowledge sharing and innovation working groups. We also provide work experience for undergraduates and school leavers who are considering a career in our industry, as well as STEM training for schools.” Richard notes that the ever increasing demands for house building, particularly in the South East, coupled with the continued pressures to focus on Brownfield land means that demand for the high quality, cost effective services that Leap provides continues to increase. “Leap has grown from just two founder members in 2008, to 24 staff in 4 regional offices in Surrey, Sussex, Kent and Berkshire, and we continue to expand within each of those regions. In addition, we are planning to add new regions in coming years to continue our expansion to the North and West.” Best Environmental & Geotechnical Consultancy - South England Leap Environmental Ltd is an environmentally conscious organisation, providing sustainable engineering solutions for the construction industry, local authority and land owners. The firm provide award winning site investigation, geotechnical design and contaminated land consultancy services for new development, land transactions, and corporate risk profiling from four offices in the South East of England. Richard Brinkworth, Director, told us more about the work of the firm and outlines a few of their most recent projects. L HB170012 Company: Leap Environmental Ltd Name: Richard Brinkworth - Director Email: [email protected] Web Address: www.leapenvironmental.com Address: Head Office: The Atrium, Curtis Road, Dorking Surrey, RH4 1XA Regional Offices in: Burgess Hill, Tunbridge Wells and Reading Telephone: 01306 646585