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:

1. Desktop study of site history.
2. 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.
3. Appraisal of possible hazardous substances such as asbestos and other deleterious materials.
4. Photographic studies.
5. Assessment of the local planning authority's local development plan.
6. Climatic conditions.

• Cost consultant:

1. Abnormal features that might impact on cost.

• Structural engineer:

1. Desktop study of geological issues or contaminated land.
2. Cursory study of neighbouring or existing structures that might require demolition or might otherwise be impacted by development.
3. Desktop study of foundation solutions adopted by adjacent developments.

• Services engineer:

1. Location and nature of underground site services.
2. Cursory investigation to establish 'cut off' for diversions of existing services.
3. 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.

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