Oceans-ESU - Braehead - A major decontamination programme on the banks of the Clyde in Glasgow.

Braehead - A major decontamination programme on the banks of the Clyde in Glasgow.

Job title: Braehead - complete decontamination programme
Industry: Major retail development
Clients: Capital Shopping Centres
Sites: Adjacent to the River Clyde, Braehead, Renfrew, Scotland

The extensive Retail Park at Braehead, Renfrew was a multi-phase development that was started in June 1996, and covers an area in excess of 65 hectares adjacent the River Clyde.

Due to the expanse of the site and being located within a former intensive industrial region this site posed a variety of environmental problems. The site had previously been used as a power station, power depot, and a variety of industries including an oil blending works all located beside the Clyde dockyards.

The site had formerly been occupied by a gas works, which converted coal into town gas. The plant was operational from the early 1900’s until it was decommissioned in the late 1960’s. The site was redeveloped into its current use as a retail outlet and car park during the late 1980’s.

To ensure complete identification of all environmental contamination ranging from ground to air a series of sub-surface site investigations, air monitoring programmes and groundwater surveys were undertaken.

Due to the age and function of the buildings situated on parts of the site, internal and external asbestos surveys were also carried out.

The collection of such large quantitative volumes of information was simply the first stage in a three year remediation programme, that was developed in conjunction with the client's requirements for 'complete clean up'.

The second problem encountered was the demolition of the former power station situated adjacent the planned retail development. This required an internal asbestos survey, which due to the nature of the building large quantities of asbestos materials were identified. The asbestos material required stripping prior to demolition. Unfortunately, the stacks could not be fully surveyed and were stripped during controlled manual demolition.

Subsequent ground investigation and supervision of excavation work and piling operations confirmed the presence of underground structures and heavy tar contamination.

The river located immediately to the west of the site revealed historical evidence of contaminant migration from the gas works to the river. The underground structures, tar and liquor tanks were constructed in an area of potential subsidence, causing severe structural damage.

During the construction of the trading outlet only minimal remediation works were undertaken. Below ground structures were left in-situ during the redevelopment of the site. Previous geo- technical and environmental sub-surface investigations undertaken at the site indicate that visible contamination was widespread throughout the site and potentially the surrounding area. Soils on the site had a high potential to transmit mobile contaminants

Contaminated soil material was excavated and stockpiled in suitable containment areas and later removed to an appropriate licensed waste disposal facility.

The initial environmental work involved a series of subsurface contaminated ground and groundwater investigations to identify specific areas of contamination. These investigations were tailor-made not only to identify general contaminants, but those related to the specific industry within each section of the site.

This meant that a wide variety of contaminants were analysed within the our specialist in-house laboratory at Oceans-ESU and used to assess the associated environmental risks.

Each section produced a unique set of contaminants that required different remediation strategies, which were developed and implemented.