Soils in the built environment
Construction
Construction of new buildings and infrastructure can damage soil in a number of ways:
- Covering the soil with impermeable materials ie, soil sealing
- Compaction of soil by use of heavy machinery and storage of building materials
- Reducing soil quality by mixing in non soil material eg, building rubble
- Importing unsuitable soil materials for landscaping
These damaged soils will not be able to fulfil the functions required of them.
Despite construction activity having the largest impact on soil sustainability within the urban environment, there is no overall planning control on the management of soil resources in the construction sector and there is a poor perception of soil-related problems by the end-user of completed developments.
There is a clear need to improve soil management practices on construction sites and identify opportunities for the sustainable use of soil. Defra is working with the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) to develop a Code of Practice for sustainable use of soils on construction sites. The Code of Practice should encourage:
- Identification of soil resources at an early stage in the development process;
- Improved planning of soil use;
- A better level of soil management during project implementation, including sustainable use of surplus soil;
- Maintenance of soil quality and function both on and off site;
- Avoidance of soil compaction and erosion (with a consequent reduction in flooding and water pollution);
- An improved knowledge and understanding of soil at all levels in the construction industry, including soil amelioration techniques.
To ensure that the Code of Practice is practical and relevant for use,
Defra has set up a Steering Group to guide its progress. The Steering Group includes representatives from the construction, landscaping and civil engineering industries. It is anticipated that the Code of Practice will go out to public consultation in early-2008.
The development of the Code of Practice will be closely linked to the revised British Standard for Topsoil which includes guidance on good soil handling and promotes a “fit for purpose” approach to obtaining soil material.
The Code of Practice will draw on a range of information sources including the following reports:
- The Impact of Subsoil Compaction on Soil Functionality and Landscape
- Soils in the Built Environment - a strategy for the construction sector (PDF 450 KB) - July 2005
- The Fate of Surplus Soils on Development Sites
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Page last modified:
29 November 2007
Page published: 1 September
2005