Richborough Estates specialises in identifying brownfield & greenfield development opportunities for residential and commercial use.
Richborough Estates specialises in identifying brownfield & greenfield development opportunities for residential and commercial use.
Richborough Estates specialises in identifying brownfield & greenfield development opportunities for residential and commercial use.
Richborough Estates specialises in identifying brownfield & greenfield development opportunities for residential and commercial use.
brownfield land
Brownfield sites are underused or abandoned industrial and commercial facilities which become available for re-use. Expansion or redevelopment of such land may be complicated by real or perceived environmental contaminations which can be challenging and costly to put right.
Below is an example of brownfield land at a disused manufacturing site before and after excavation, with soil contamination from removed underground storage tanks and press works.
Rear of site before excavation
Rear of site after excavation
Gatehouse image one
Gatehouse image two
Ballast pit
Typical pollutants found on contaminated brownfield land include; hydrocarbon spillages, solvents, pesticides, heavy metals such as lead (e.g. paints), tributyltins and asbestos.
Richborough carries out background checks on the land, which can be via historical maps, local historians and information about the site held at nearby libraries. This exhaustive research can assist in identifying areas which will need to be tested.
The economics of delivering is often challenging on brownfield sites due to abnormal costs of development or the fact that the site already has a high land value similar or above redevelopment value. Richborough has a track record of undertaking residual land values and demonstrating to local authorities that there needs to be policy relaxation such as reduced affordable housing in order for the development to be viable. This can be quite contentions but Richborough has a track record of securing appropriate permission through a Public Enquiry if agreement with Local Authorities cannot be achieved.
