Ground Stability in Industrial Land Regeneration: Don’t Let History Derail Design

Old ground, new risks

Industrial land carries long memories—made ground, shallow voids, undocumented services and historic foundations. If ignored, those memories resurface as differential settlement, broken drainage and costly redesigns. Early ground investigation is essential, but it should be guided by desk‑based risk assessment that targets effort where it counts.

A Coal Mining Risk Assessment screens for recorded and probable workings, shafts and zones of influence. When paired with a sitewide Phase 1 Desktop Study, you understand how past uses and geology intersect with today’s layout. Investigation locations, foundation strategy and drainage alignment can then be chosen with intent, not guesswork.

Integrate with drainage and waste strategy

Stability risks do not sit in isolation. Where infiltration is proposed, measured Infiltration Testing confirms feasibility; where made ground prevails, capping layers and geogrids may be more realistic. Excavations will generate arisings—plan WAC Testing sampling to keep disposal cost controlled and enable reuse where lawful.

On a former works in a coalfield, early Coal Mining Risk Assessment shifted the building grid clear of a high‑risk zone and cut piling depth. Infiltration Testing sized SuDS features that doubled as amenity. The programme benefited from fewer RFIs and a leaner groundworks package.

Design on evidence, not hope

EnviroSolution integrates Coal Mining Risk Assessment, Phase 1 Desktop Study, Infiltration Testing and WAC Testing so regeneration proceeds on solid ground—literally and figuratively.