Diocese of Rochester
Services Supplied on this Project:
- A site walkover survey of the site, set-out and supervision of the field works.
- Desk study
- Window sampling.
- Groundwater monitoring standpipes.
- Geotechnical testing.
- Chemical analysis of soil samples.
- Gas spike test.
- The provision of a letter report pertaining to the site.
The Project
Geo-Environmental Services Limited was instructed by Colin Toms & Partners on behalf of the Diocese of Rochester to undertake a geotechnical and geo-environmental ground investigation at St Thomas’s Vicarage, 28 Pennington Road, Southborough, Kent. It was understood that the development would comprise a new vicarage within the grounds of the existing property with private gardens, car parking and associated infrastructure.
What did we consider?
The primary purpose of the investigation was to analyse the factors that may impact the design and construction of the foundations for the new vicarage, as well as to identify any potential contamination in the development area.
The possible presence of trees and shrinkable soils were considered as these could have had a significant impact on the design and construction of the foundations.
As the site walkover and desk study did not identify any particular areas of concern within the site based on the historical and current use, exploratory holes where positioned for coverage of the site and to target proposed garden areas.
What did we do?
Window sampling locations were located across the site, with samples taken at each location. Sulphate and pH analyses showed the soil samples tested to have Water Soluble Sulphates falling into Class DS-1. Further chemical screening included common zootoxic and phytotoxic elements together with speciated PAH (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) and TPH (total petroleum hydrocarbon) screening.
The findings of the gas monitoring confirmed that gas protection measures were not considered necessary for this site.
The Atterberg limit test results taken from the soil allowed us to provide advice on foundation depths in our letter report, which also included advice on contamination, excavation and pavements.