9.00 Registration and Networking

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9.30 Welcome from Environment Analyst

 

9.35 Opening Remarks from the Chairs

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Deryck Irving, Head of Place Innovation, Hydro Nation Chair

Christine Switzer, Lecturer in Civil Engineering, University of Strathclyde

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9.45 Update from Scottish Government and the Contaminated Land Advisory Group (CLAG)

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The Scottish Government' Environmental Protection Team has policy responsibility for the statutory regime to clean up historically contaminated land and co-ordinate the recently reconvened Contaminated Land Advisory Group (CLAG). Policy lead for the EP-team, Helen Mansbridge, will provide an update on the recent and planned work of the Scottish Government and CLAG. This includes development of new guidance to inform stakeholders on application of the Land Contamination Risk Management (LCRM) guidance in Scotland.

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Helen Mansbridge, Environment Protection Lead, The Scottish Government

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10.05 Examining the Outcomes of the Vacant & Derelict Land (VDL) Reuse Progress Report 

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• Examining the progress and successes of the Ryden report on VDL 

• Highlighting areas for further action to maintain momentum in land re-use

• Discussing how smaller VDL sites can be tackled and how funding can be attracted to these

• Developing community ownership of land

• Understanding different approaches and priorities towards VDL sites

 

David Stewart, Policy and Practice Lead, Scottish Land Commission

Heather Yearwood, Hub Development Officer, Community Land Scotland

Ross Nimmo, Head of Place, Glasgow City Region

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10.45 Case Study: Navigating the Challenges of Large Scale Remediation of the Former Bowling Terminal

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• Examining the project phases of the full project lifecycle

• Overcoming the challenges on the project

• Developing effective collaboration and partnerships

• Discussing the technical challenges 

• Key project success factors

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Hendrik Nollet, Project Manager, DEME Group

Nick Gilmour, Principal Consultant, WSP

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This project was awarded Highly Commended for Best Project Preparatory Work in the 2024 Brownfield Awards.

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11.10 Morning Refreshments & Networking

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11.40 BR211 Guidance on Protective Measures for New Buildings, One Year On: Are you Meeting the Minimums Required by the Regulators?

 

Examining the revisions and where responsibility is now to be allocated and where proof of involvement is placed on record, within the brand new Section 7, and to whom this record of responsibility will be made available to:

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• combined guidance now created for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

• clearer explanatory guidance on specifying and installing radon-protective measures

• updated guidance to reflect recent amendments to building regulations and building standards

• improved references to inspection, on-site quality management and specifications

• the Appendix A (45 pages of maps) being replaced by links to interactive UK radon Maps

• the Appendix B being replaced by the Radon Protective Measures Quality Management Record

 

John Sparks, Global Operations Director, Geoshield Ltd

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12.00 Evaluating the Sampling and Analysis of PFAS and Emerging Contaminants

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• Understanding PFAS and Emerging Contaminants and the different challenges they pose

• Addressing the limitations to lab testing 

• Examining what you should be doing (or not doing) with sampling

• Highlighting quality control and the importance of robust data

• Identifying when testing should be used 

• Developments for the future testing and analysis of all contaminants

Clare Llowarch, Technical Director, i2 Analytical

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12.20 Decoding Coal Tar for Smarter Waste Classification at Contaminated Land Sites

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Utilising forensic analysis of PAHs and their alkylated derivatives offers valuable insights into the origin and nature of contamination. By unveiling coal tar’s hidden signature, this session discusses the evidence base for accurate waste classification, supporting more precise regulatory decisions under WM3 and ADEPT guidelines.

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Ken Scally, Technical & Quality Director, Normec DETS

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12.40 Networking Lunch

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13.40 Welcome Back from the Afternoon Chair

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13.45 Interactive Roundtable Sessions

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These focused, interactive, break-out sessions give you the opportunity to discuss a key topic of interest to you in a more participative format. 

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A. Effective Design, Application and Verification of Radon Protection

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A discussion as to the ‘real case’ pitfalls which can be avoided during the design, application & verification of the radon protection system. This will include references to live sites within Scotland and instances on record where not following & correctly completing the requested procedures in the BR211 guidance document have proven to be very costly to all involved.

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Paul Colbeck, Director of Site Services, Geoshield

 

B. Developing the Resilience of Coasts and Communities: Risks for Coastal Landfill Contaminated Sites

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Discussing a project called RACC: Resilient Anthropocene Coasts and Communities specifically researching historic landfills at the coast that are already at accelerated risks of erosion and flooding as our climate changes.

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Larissa Naylor, Professor, University of Glasgow

 

C. Understanding the Green Space Value of Brownfield Sites

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The Scottish Government budget for 25/26 will see the Vacant and Derelict Land funding reinstated, likely to be £7.4 million. What do you see as the best use of this funding? What are the opportunities and barriers to addressing the issues of inequality, climate and nature through vacant and derelict land?

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Ian Buchanan, Head of Strategy, Green Action Trust

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D. Natural Capital: Evaluating the Benefits from Remediating and Redeveloping Contaminated Brownfield Sites

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NatureScot defines natural capital as, “the habitats and ecosystems that provide social, environmental and economic benefits to humans.” While we should be cautious not to value nature only for the ecosystem services it provides to us, a natural capital framework provides a useful lens to support and evaluate brownfield land regeneration. Brownfield land has lost natural capital because of human activities. Regeneration efforts seek to restore these lost assets. This roundtable will discuss holistic land regeneration approaches that integrate remediation into wider redevelopment or restoration plans and explore how tools such as the Natural Capital Asset Index can be used to support these efforts.

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Christine Switzer, Lecturer in Civil Engineering, University of Strathclyde

 

E. The importance of Designing a Comprehensive Environmental and Geotechnical Ground Investigation from the Outset When Assessing Historical Contaminated Land

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1. Risk Assessment for Redevelopment: When planning the redevelopment of brownfield sites, risk assessments are critical to address planning conditions. These assessments must consider potential risks to human health, property, and the water environment, alongside other relevant receptors.

2. Cost-Effective and Robust Investigations: Ground investigations are inherently expensive. Therefore, their design must be robust and well-planned to ensure maximum value and effectiveness.

3. The Role of the Site Conceptual Model (SCM): A detailed Site Conceptual Model forms the foundation of any ground investigation for brownfield risk assessments. It is essential to consider all relevant receptors within this model. However, the water environment is often overlooked, despite its critical importance.

4. Sensible Expenditure: Thoughtful design and planning of ground investigations can lead to smarter financial investments, minimising unnecessary costs while achieving comprehensive results.

5. Streamlining Regulatory Processes: A well-designed conceptual site model and ground investigation can simplify the assessment process for regulators, facilitating more efficient decision-making and smoother progression of redevelopment projects.

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Dr Ivonne Hughes, Contaminated Land Specialist, Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA)

 

F. The importance of enhancing Social Value and Community Engagement (The Kelpies/Stockingfield Bridge & the Beithir Sculpture)

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Discussing the value long-term community engagement and ownership can bring and how projects can leave legacy though community engagement throughout the project. This will look at the value this can bring to place, people, ownership and community confidence.

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Richard Millar, COO, Scottish Canals

 

G. Carbon sequestration in vacant and derelict land: researchers and practitioners working together 

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Discussing approaches to carbon sequestration in vacant and derelict land (VDL) and how researchers and practitioners can work together to implement this. This session will discuss how carbon sequestration can be implemented in VDL in conjunction with considerations of development, biodiversity and flood management. The GALLANT project (a collaboration between the University of Glasgow and Glasgow City Council) provides a framework, but discussion will also look at the varying needs of practitioners.

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John MacDonald, Senior Lecturer in Anthropogenic Geomaterials, School of Geographical and Earth Sciences, University of Glasgow

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H. The Importance of Soil Biodiversity for Healthy Functioning Soils

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Soil biodiversity can be described as the engine of soil delivering healthy soils with multiple benefits and services, such as climate adaptation through reducing temperatures to counteract heat islands, mitigating flood risks, enabling regeneration of brownfield land to green infrastructure, and providing improved habitats for aboveground diversity. The roundtable will initially explore the level of soil literacy and thereafter in a brownfield context consider and discuss pragmatic solutions to maintain or improve soil biodiversity. Finally, roundtable discussion will focus on consideration of a soil monitoring framework to provide evidence that brownfield soil health is maintained or improved.

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Dr Roy Neilson, Soil Ecologist, James Hutton Institute

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14.35 Case Study: Addressing an Industrial Legacy – Shawfield Evolution of the Conceptual Site Model and Remediation Strategy

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• Setting the stage for Clyde Gateway and the Shawfield Masterplan

• Examining works completed to date and pending 

• Planning and employing site investigations, data interpretation and visualisations

• Understanding the challenges to developing the robust cost-effective solutions needed

• Gaining insight into the work undertaken for the AECOM-Clyde Gateway Award Submission

• Detailing the recent remediation pilot trials

• Exploring the real environmental and social benefits

 

David Granger, Technical Director, Hydrogeology and Remediation, AECOM

Lynne Valentine, Project Manager, Clyde Gateway

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This project won the 2024 Brownfield Award for Best Project Preparatory Work

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15.05 Afternoon Refreshments & Networking

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15.35 Risk screening coal mine gas emissions using Web GIS

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A joint presentation on the design and development of a new spatial decision support tool designed to apply CL:AIRE guidance on coal mine gas emissions in support of land use planning in North Lanarkshire.

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With British Geological Survey, North Lanarkshire Council, and WSP.

Darren Beriro, Geoscientist, British Geological Survey (BGS)

Julie Thomson, Contaminated Land Officer, North Lanarkshire Council

Stewart Browne, Associate Director, Earth & Environment, WSP

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15.55 NCLOG’s Regulators Guide to Cover Systems and their Verification

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Examining the guidance on cover systems, the types and components of a cover system and the different elements to take into consideration during design, implementation and verification. 

 

Kirstie Ogilvie, Contaminated Land Officer, South Lanarkshire Council

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16.15 Collaborating to Advance Brownfield Developments

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Bringing together developers and those involved in the policy making to discuss their different challenges and how with creative thinking they can find solutions and bring social value and community needs into the conversation early on.

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Pamela Clifford, Chief Planning Officer, East Ayrshire Council

Colin Cumberland, Managing Director, Ediston

Dr Ivonne Hughes, Contaminated Land Specialist, Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA)

Robert McKinnon, Senior Land & Partnership Manager, Keepmoat Homes Ltd

Donald Payne, Technical Officer Land & Air Quality, Fife Council

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16.55 Closing Remarks from the Chair followed by a Complimentary Networking Drinks Reception​