Desk study and site history
Old maps, previous uses, nearby watercourses and known ground issues reviewed to show what the site may be hiding before anyone digs.
Reportfrom $1,200
Know your site before the diggers arrive
Site assessments, soil and water sampling, ecology surveys, noise monitoring and permit support for builders, councils and businesses. We tell you what the site holds, what the rules where you build are likely to ask for, and what answering them will cost.
10 daysfor a typical desk study
Fixedfees agreed before work
1 pageplain summary up front
- Ecology, soil, water and noise
- Reports written for planners and lenders
- Town and countryside sites
- Professional indemnity insured
Assessments we carry out
Fees are for a typical site of up to one hectare. Larger or more complex sites receive a fixed fee proposal after a short call.
Ground investigation
Trial pits and boreholes sampled for soil and groundwater contamination, tested by an accredited laboratory and explained in plain terms.
Fieldwork and reportfrom $3,800
Ecology surveys
Habitat surveys and checks for protected species, timed to the months when they are active, with advice on keeping the work lawful and on programme.
Habitat surveyfrom $950
Noise and air monitoring
Baseline and construction monitoring at the site boundary, with readings logged and summarised for neighbours, councils and contractors.
Monitoring visitfrom $450
Permit and consent support
Applications prepared and supporting reports written for the permits your project needs. The decision always rests with the authority that issues them.
Each applicationfrom $1,600
Environmental management plans
Practical plans for dust, run off, waste and wildlife during construction, written so that site teams can actually follow them.
Planfrom $1,400
Laboratory testing is charged at cost and shown on its own line in every proposal.
Which study fits the stage of your project
Requirements differ between countries and between local authorities. This is the pattern we see most often, and the first call confirms what applies to your site.
| Project stage | What is usually asked for | What we provide |
|---|---|---|
| Buying land or a building | Evidence of past uses and possible contamination | A desk study, plus a site walkover if risks show up |
| Planning or zoning application | Reports on ground conditions, ecology and noise | The surveys the authority lists, coordinated as one package |
| Before groundworks | Proof that contamination is understood and managed | Ground investigation and a remediation strategy where needed |
| During construction | Controls on dust, noise, run off and wildlife | An environmental management plan and monitoring visits |
| Running a site | Permits for discharges, emissions or waste | Permit applications, monitoring and yearly reporting support |
How a commission runs
A scoping call
Tell us about the site, the project and what has been asked for. We say which studies are needed and which are not.
A fixed fee proposal
Scope, programme and fee in writing, with laboratory costs listed apart.
Desk study first
Records and maps reviewed so that fieldwork targets the real risks instead of guessing.
Fieldwork and sampling
Surveys, sampling and monitoring carried out safely, in the right season for any ecology.
Report and next steps
A report with a plain summary on page one and a clear list of what happens next.
Reports that start with the answer
Planning officers, lenders and site managers rarely read a technical report end to end. Every Greenfield report opens with a single page summary of what we found, what it means for the project and what we recommend, with the evidence set out in the sections that follow.
- A one page summary in plain words
- Maps and photos of every sampling point
- Laboratory results with their limits explained
- Recommendations ranked by cost and urgency
Who we work with
Projects from a single house plot to a regional infrastructure scheme.
- Housebuilders and developers
- Councils and public bodies
- Factories and warehouses
- Farms and estates
- Schools and hospitals
- Architects and planning consultants
- Property buyers and lenders
- Utility and energy projects
We say so straight away when a study is not needed, and we never promise the outcome of a permit or planning decision, because those decisions belong to the authorities.
Out on site
Most commissions mean muddy boots at some point, whatever the weather.
Clients on our reports (example reviews)
The desk study flagged an old fuel tank on the plot before contracts were exchanged. The price came down by more than the report had cost.
Bat surveys were booked for the right months, so the planning timetable never stalled while everyone waited for the season to come round again.
Weekly monitoring summaries went to the neighbours in a format anyone could read, and the complaints had stopped within a month.
Questions before you commission a study
Which surveys will the site need?
It depends on the project, the location and the authority involved, and the rules differ between countries and regions. In the scoping call we review what has been asked for and tell you which studies are needed and which can be left out.
Can you guarantee a permit or planning approval?
No. Decisions belong to the authority that issues the permit or the consent, and no consultant can promise the outcome. What we can do is make sure the evidence is complete, accurate and clearly presented.
Why do ecology surveys depend on the season?
Many species can only be recorded reliably while they are active, breeding or flowering. Booking surveys early keeps the programme moving, because a missed season can mean waiting until the following year.
How long does a desk study take?
Around ten working days from instruction for a typical site. Ground investigation adds fieldwork days and laboratory time, which the programme in each proposal sets out.
What happens if contamination is found?
We explain the risk in plain terms and set out the options, from leaving material in place under a cover layer to removal or treatment. The approach is agreed with you and, where required, with the regulating authority.
How are fees and payment handled?
Every commission has a fixed fee proposal, with laboratory costs passed on at cost. Invoices follow the stages of the programme, and payment for each stage is arranged directly between your organisation and ours.
Request a fee proposal
Tell us about the site and the project. A consultant replies within two working days with the studies we think you need and a fixed fee.
- Fixed fees in writing
- Laboratory costs shown on their own line
- Tight planning deadline? Call +44 20 7946 0136
Talk to a consultant
Enquiries are answered by a qualified consultant, never by a sales team.
Contact
Office in the market town, fieldwork across the region
Office hours
| Monday to Friday | 08:30 to 17:30 |
| Saturday | Fieldwork by arrangement |
| Sunday | Closed |
Where we work
Sites across the region from our main office, with fieldwork further afield by arrangement. We work alongside your architect, engineer and planning consultant rather than around them.