Before any site development begins, understanding ground conditions is essential. Unseen environmental or geotechnical risks can lead to costly delays, safety issues, and planning obstacles. Geo-environmental consultancy helps you uncover those risks early, so you can move forward with clarity and confidence.
At ACS, we support clients across the full project lifecycle from initial desk studies and site investigations to remediation strategies and regulatory reporting. Whether you're acquiring land, redeveloping a site, or preparing for construction, our consultants deliver the insight you need to build with certainty.
Find out more below.
What Is Geo Environmental Consultancy?
Geo-environmental consultancy combines environmental science and geotechnical engineering to assess land for contamination, subsurface risks, and regulatory constraints. These insights inform design, planning, construction methods, and health and safety strategies.
For developers, planners, and contractors, this means clarity on:
- Land contamination: Is it present, and if so, how can it be safely managed or remediated?
- Ground conditions: Will the soil or geology impact construction, foundations, or materials?
- Regulatory alignment: Do your plans meet local planning and environmental standards?
A professional geo-environmental report summarises this information clearly, supporting planning submissions, technical design, and development decisions.
When Should You Instruct Geo Environment Consultants?
You should instruct a geo-environmental consultancy at the start of a project to help mitigate risk and avoid costly delays later.
You may need geo-environment consultancy services to:
- Determine site suitability before purchase
- Meet planning conditions for brownfield or industrial land
- Establish how contamination might affect future users, design, materials, or foundations
- Support environmental permit applications (e.g., landfill, quarry, or industrial sites)
- Classify and manage excavated soils and waste appropriately
Working with an experienced consultancy like ACS ensures nothing is overlooked and that investigations align with your project timeline.
Did you know? Local planning authorities often require a Phase 1 Desk Study before works can commence, and depending on findings, a Phase 2 Site Investigation. Especially on brownfield sites or former industrial land.
What Does a Geo Environmental Investigation Involve?
Every site is different, but most geo-environmental investigations follow a standard three-phase process: research, fieldwork, and analysis. Together, these stages build a comprehensive picture of a site’s environmental and geotechnical profile.
1. Desk Studies
Investigations often begin with a desk-based assessment of your site. This includes reviewing existing records, such as historic land use, geological data, and previous site investigations, to identify contamination sources and potential risks. This stage will highlight if an intrusive investigation and further assessment is required.
2. Intrusive Site Investigations
If the desk study identifies potential risks, on-site testing is undertaken to investigate further. This can include borehole drilling, trial pitting, and installing gas or groundwater monitoring points. The aim is to assess soil composition, geology, and water conditions to develop a clear view of risk.
3. Laboratory Testing
Any collected samples during on-site investigations are tested in the laboratory for a wide range of parameters – including physical properties, metal, hydrocarbons, asbestos, sulphates, and more. These results feed into your geo-environmental report, supporting planning submissions, foundation design, and remediation strategies.
Specialist Risk Assessments & Monitoring
Depending on site complexity and regulatory requirements, more advanced assessments may be necessary:
- Ground Gas Monitoring & Risk Assessment: Long-term monitoring for methane, carbon dioxide, and other gases to inform foundation design and ensure occupant safety.
- Groundwater Monitoring & Risk Assessment: Assessing the potential for pollutants to migrate through aquifers or impact nearby watercourses.
- Detailed Quantitative Risk Assessment (DQRA): Where standard assessments are not sufficient and site specific assessments are required, a DQRA is used to quantify risk to humans, buildings, and the environment.
Remediation, Reporting & Regulatory Support
When investigations confirm contamination, geo-environmental consultants play a vital role in managing the next steps – helping you mitigate risks, meet planning conditions, and remain compliant with environmental regulations.
This might involve:
- Designing a remediation strategy to reduce, remove, or isolate contamination in a way that is proportionate, cost-effective, and aligned with your development goals.
- Producing validation reports to demonstrate that remedial measures have been carried out successfully, satisfying regulatory and planning requirements.
- Supporting waste classification and management to ensure soils and materials are correctly identified, treated, reused, or disposed of in line with relevant guidance.
Professional geo-environmental reports will align with current regulatory frameworks, such as the Environment Agency’s Land Contamination: Risk Management (LCRM) guidance, to ensure that development proceeds safely, legally, and with full regulatory confidence.
Did you know? If remediation is required, local authorities often won’t release planning conditions until a validation (or verification) report has been submitted, confirming that all agreed remediation work has been completed to standard.
Why Work with ACS Geo Environmental Consultants?
With over a decade of experience, ACS delivers a full suite of geo-environmental consultancy services. From initial desk studies to remediation validation, our consultants work closely with clients across residential, commercial, and industrial sectors.
Clients choose ACS for:
- End-to-end consultancy, from desk study to remediation
- Fast turnaround with all testing completed in-house
- Site-specific recommendations from qualified professionals
- Clear, regulator-ready reports to support compliance
For more information, visit our Geo Environmental Consultancy Services page or get in touch with our team to discuss your next project.