Desk study

The desk study and development of a preliminary conceptual site model (CSM) is the first phase of the assessment, and underpins all subsequent decisions relating to contamination and its impact on the land. It is the first level of assessment for any site and can be used for a variety of purposes. Typically, the desk study is the basic requirement of the planning authority for a development site, as well as being the initial informer for due diligence assessments for pre-purchase or divestment purposes.

The desk study can be used to show that contamination is unlikely to be an issue, or, conversely, can be used to give an indication of whether contamination is likely to pose a risk and the potential scale of that risk and associated liabilities. This is achieved by way of an accurate as possible CSM, noting that the preliminary CSM developed at this stage will evolve as data are gathered and the site becomes better understood.