Our client requested The CDS Group to undertake an assessment of the site and the site specific planning conditions with a view to extending the areas of natural burial into other parts of the site and to review the feasibility of traditional burials being allowed on the site.
On review of the information provided, The CDS Group undertook an assessment of the site in terms of groundwater risk. The assessment highlighted the presence of shallow bedrock across the site, which could restrict the areas where burials are permitted due to the site specific planning conditions that burials must be at a minimum depth of 1.3m bgl.
CDS proposed a series of Dynamic Probes be undertaken across the site on a 10m x 10m grid to assess the depth to bedrock, variability in depth to bedrock and to identify areas of the site where bedrock depth is suitable to facilitate burials in line with the planning conditions.
Over 400 dynamic probe locations were set out in three areas of the site on a 10m x 10m grid. A small tracked windowless sampler rig, which causes minimal disturbance to the site was used to assess the depth to bedrock. Refusal depths were recorded at each location and identified that the depth to bedrock varied significantly.
CDS used Surfer to produce site specific contour maps, with the depth to bedrock shown in a clear colour coded map.
The dynamic probing assessment enabled CDS to identify areas of the site, which could be utilized for green burials without any further work. The dynamic probing also identified areas of the site where the depth to bedrock was too shallow to allow burials.
CDS were able to assist our client with alternative ways to utilise areas of the site where the depth to bedrock was too shallow to allow burials. These include the excavation of a lake on site to provide a feature which will not only enhance the biodiversity of the site but also provides site won clean materials to land raise other areas of the site where the bedrock was found to be shallow.
This investigation enabled CDS to help our client, at an early stage to maximise the potential of their site.
