Background

The UK environment agencies and regulators (NIEA, EA, SEPA, NRW) stipulate that all planning applications for cemetery and graveyard developments should be accompanied by an appropriate Groundwater / Hydrogeological Risk Assessment, and that the assessment needs to be completed by a qualified Hydrogeologist.

 

The assessments will determine ground conditions and provide a risk assessment with respect to the local water environment (Groundwater and surface water).

We have completed Hydrogeological Risk Assessments for a range of clients including local parishes for graveyard extensions, and local council authorities to assess large parcels of land for suitability of a new cemeteries, or cemetery extensions.

 

In order to appropriately assess the risks and ensure a cost-effective approach, a tiered approach is adopted:

• Tier 1: Preliminary Hydrogeological Risk Assessment
• Tier 2: Generic Quantitative Hydrogeological Risk Assessment
• Tier 3: Detailed Quantitative Hydrogeological Risk Assessment

We have the capability to supplement assessments with detailed ground water modelling studies. Our specialised team can undertake the relevant pollutant flux modelling and contaminant fate & transport modelling to complete the assessments in accordance with EA / NIEA / SEPA / NRW guidance.

Our Hydrogeology Team

Our groundwater team is led by Senior Hydrogeologist, Richard Thompson, who is experienced in carrying out cemetery assessments ranging from Tier 1 preliminary risk assessments right through to Tier 3 detailed quantitative risk assessments that include contaminant flux modelling and contaminant transport models to fully quantify the risk.

Recent Case Study

We have completed assessments for large cemetery developments for local authorities, as well as smaller graveyard extension developments for local churches and parishes.

We recently assisted a graveyard development in Northern Ireland that had already obtained planning approval however the approval included various planning conditions relating to no burial zones and limited burials per plot, which limited the land available for development.

McCloy Consulting were appointed to assist the client with removing the conditions and unlocking all available land for development. We carried out additional ground investigations and constructed a detailed conceptual site model to inform an updated risk assessment.

Outcomes

We successfully achieved new planning approvals to remove all previous conditions and restrictions to development. This allowed the client to utilise all available land for development.

 

Contact Us

If you require a Groundwater / Hydrogeological Risk Assessment for a cemetery or graveyard development, please get in touch with our Senior Hydrogeologist Richard Thompson for advice.