Specialist reporting

Built for Northern Ireland. Designed for warranty reviews.

Illustrative residential development site showing exposed ground and foundation works

A practical assessment of environmental and ground-related risks, brought together in one consultant-reviewed report.

Northern Ireland has distinct geological conditions, historic land uses and available environmental datasets. Our desk study reviews relevant evidence and explains potential constraints in a format suited to building warranty providers and technical review teams.

Whether the site is at planning stage or undergoing a technical review, we focus on findings that may require further evidence or investigation—not a generic database printout.

Explore the report deliverables

What we assess

One report. Two core assessments.

Evidence is reviewed in the context of the site's location, proposed use and the commissioning provider's requirements.

01Environmental

Environmental risk assessment

Desk-based assessment of contamination and other relevant environmental constraints, using available Northern Ireland records.

Historical mapping, former uses and potentially contaminative activities
Recorded landfills, waste activities and relevant regulated sites
Geology, hydrogeology, groundwater and sensitive receptors
Relevant flooding and radon screening where appropriate
Source–pathway–receptor assessment and risk summary

02Ground conditions

Ground stability assessment

Site-specific desktop consideration of geological hazards and ground-instability constraints relevant to residential development.

Bedrock, superficial deposits and potential made ground
Historic mining, mine entries and shallow workings where recorded
Potential settlement, subsidence and compressible ground
Peat deposits and peat-slide considerations where relevant
Available historical borehole and geotechnical records, where relevant

Desk-based by design. Site visits, walkovers, sampling and intrusive ground investigations are not included in the standard report.

The deliverable

Clear findings for technical decision-making.

Each report sets out the records reviewed, the significance of identified risks and any limitations that could affect the warranty review.

Discuss a reporting requirement

Illustrative desktop review of site plans, geological mapping and environmental records

01

Site and development context

Site identification, supplied development details and the records and mapping reviewed.

02

Environmental and stability findings

Separate, reasoned assessments explaining relevant hazards, evidence gaps and uncertainty.

03

Conclusions and risk summary

Clear findings on the significance of identified hazards, relevant evidence gaps and the limitations of a desktop assessment.

04

Consultant-reviewed PDF

A report prepared for the commissioning warranty provider, subject to agreed scope and reliance terms.

Regional evidence

Northern Ireland-specific data sources.

We select sources relevant to the site and licence permissions, then apply consultant interpretation to the available information.

GSNI geological data and mapsGeological mapping, subsurface records and regional evidence GSNI abandoned mines guidanceHistoric mines and development-related ground instability NIEA – land contaminationNorthern Ireland land contamination and planning context DfI Flood Maps (NI)River and surface-water flood screening BGS radon dataIndicative radon potential, where relevant

Source availability and coverage vary by site. A report will identify material data limitations rather than assume an absence of recorded hazards means no risk.

Scope clarification

A desktop report, not a site investigation.

This service excludes a physical walkover, site inspection, intrusive investigation, sampling, testing, monitoring and foundation design. It does not constitute a warranty approval, and further assessment may still be required.

Provider acceptance matters. Warranty requirements differ. NHBC Standards Chapter 4.1 requires both a desk study and a walkover for its initial site assessment. This desk-only scope should therefore be confirmed with the commissioning provider before instruction.

Warranty standards & scope

Frequently asked questions.

Does the report include a ground stability assessment?

Yes. The desk study considers geological setting and potential stability constraints, including historic mining, made ground, peat and slope instability where relevant and supported by available data.

Is a site walkover included?

No. The standard report is based on desktop records and consultant interpretation only. Where the evidence indicates that further site assessment may be necessary, the report explains this limitation.

What does NHBC Standards Chapter 4.1 cover?

NHBC Standards Chapter 4.1, Land quality – managing ground conditions, provides a framework for identifying and managing contamination and geotechnical risks on residential developments. It covers the initial desk study and walkover, proportionate ground investigation where necessary, management of identified hazards, and supporting documentation. See the NHBC Standards guidance for the current requirements.

Does this report meet NHBC Standards Chapter 4.1?

This report provides the desk-based environmental and ground stability assessment only. NHBC Chapter 4.1 also requires a site walkover as part of its initial assessment, and further investigation may be required according to the site's risks. Our report does not replace those stages or guarantee NHBC acceptance; the commissioning warranty provider must agree the report's scope before instruction.

Can it be used for building warranty reviews?

The report is designed for building warranty providers and their technical teams. The commissioning provider must confirm that the agreed desk-only scope is acceptable for its specific requirements.

How much does the Northern Ireland Environmental Risk Report cost?

The standard desk-based Northern Ireland Environmental Risk Report costs £750 + VAT. It covers environmental risk and ground stability assessment but excludes a site walkover and intrusive investigation.

Which locations in Northern Ireland are covered?

We can assess sites across Northern Ireland, including Belfast, Derry/Londonderry, Lisburn, Newry and rural areas, subject to reliable site identification and the availability of relevant evidence.

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Northern Ireland Environmental Risk Report