Site appraisal for construction
Very early appraisals of potential sites for a development may be carried out by a surveyor, before the appointment of the consultant team, during the business justification stage. Appraisal of alternative sites may also be an important part of an environmental impact assessment.
Subsequent site appraisals by the consultant team will obtain details that might not have been available in the site Information provided by the client. They are also an opportunity for the consultant team to familiarise themselves with the site and assess the detailed surveys that might be necessary.
Specific appraisals that might be made by individual consultants include:
- Architect:
- Desktop study of site history.
- Study of site context including access, boundaries, levels, landscape (including possible ecological issues such as the presence of japanese knotweed), transport and traffic and an assessment of neighbouring properties and views.
- Appraisal of possible hazardous substances such as asbestos and other deleterious materials.
- Photographic studies.
- Assessment of the local planning authority's local development plan.
- Climatic conditions.
- Cost consultant:
- Structural engineer:
- Desktop study of geological issues or contaminated land.
- Cursory study of neighbouring or existing structures that might require demolition or might otherwise be impacted by development.
- Desktop study of foundation solutions adopted by adjacent developments.
- Services engineer:
- Location and nature of underground site services.
- Cursory investigation to establish 'cut off' for diversions of existing services.
- Statutory utility drawings for the site.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Alternative site assessment ASA.
- Building People.
- Building survey.
- Conceptual site model.
- Condition.
- Condition survey.
- Contaminated land.
- Demolition.
- Desk study.
- Development appraisal.
- Difference between existing use value and market value.
- Environmental Impact Assessment.
- Feasibility studies.
- Gross development value.
- Ground conditions.
- Insitu testing of soils.
- Laser scanning.
- Property valuation.
- Radon.
- Radon protection for new domestic extensions and conservatories with solid concrete ground floors (GG 73 revised).
- Site information.
- Site investigation.
- Site selection and acquisition.
- Site surveys.
- Soil survey.
- Surveyor.
- Technical due diligence.
- Vendor survey.
Featured articles and news
The 5 elements of seiri, seiton, seiso, seiketsu and shitsuke.
Shading for housing, a design guide
A look back at embedding a new culture of shading.
The Architectural Technology Awards
The AT Awards 2025 are open for entries!
ECA Blueprint for Electrification
The 'mosaic of interconnected challenges' and how to deliver the UK’s Transition to Clean Power.
Grenfell Tower Principal Contractor Award notice
Tower repair and maintenance contractor announced as demolition contractor.
Passivhaus social homes benefit from heat pump service
Sixteen new homes designed and built to achieve Passivhaus constructed in Dumfries & Galloway.
CABE Publishes Results of 2025 Building Control Survey
Concern over lack of understanding of how roles have changed since the introduction of the BSA 2022.
British Architectural Sculpture 1851-1951
A rich heritage of decorative and figurative sculpture. Book review.
A programme to tackle the lack of diversity.
Independent Building Control review panel
Five members of the newly established, Grenfell Tower Inquiry recommended, panel appointed.
Welsh Recharging Electrical Skills Charter progresses
ECA progressing on the ‘asks’ of the Recharging Electrical Skills Charter at the Senedd in Wales.
A brief history from 1890s to 2020s.
CIOB and CORBON combine forces
To elevate professional standards in Nigeria’s construction industry.
Amendment to the GB Energy Bill welcomed by ECA
Move prevents nationally-owned energy company from investing in solar panels produced by modern slavery.
Gregor Harvie argues that AI is state-sanctioned theft of IP.
Experimental AI housing target help for councils
Experimental AI could help councils meet housing targets by digitising records.
BSRIA Occupant Wellbeing survey BOW
Occupant satisfaction and wellbeing tool inc. physical environment, indoor facilities, functionality and accessibility.
Comments