Oldham Council – Ground Investigation

Oldham MBC commissioned The LK Group to conduct comprehensive Phase 2 Site Investigations on a public open space that may include historic landfill areas. This investigation aimed to assess the site's suitability for a proposed solar farm development.

Project Overview

Oldham MBC commissioned The LK Group to conduct comprehensive Phase 2 Site Investigations on a public open space that may include historic landfill areas. This investigation aimed to assess the suitability of the site for a proposed solar farm development. 

The project site presented multiple complexities including large areas of deep made ground, potentially contaminated due to historical landfilling and dense vegetation, Japanese Knotweed, and a steep 7-meter slope leading to a nearby brook.

The Solution

To address these challenges and gather essential geotechnical and environmental data, The LK Group implemented a targeted suite of investigative techniques:

• • Cable Percussive Boreholes: Deployed to assess the thickness of the made ground, install deep groundwater wells, and measure in-situ Standard Penetration Test (SPT) ‘N’ values for both made ground and natural soil layers.
  • Window Sample Boreholes and Geotechnical Testing: Conducted to evaluate the strength of shallow ground layers and install gas monitoring wells. In-situ SPTs and California Bearing Ratio (CBR) testing were performed to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the shallow ground conditions.
  • Water and Gas Sampling: Groundwater and surface water samples were collected to evaluate potential contamination risks to the underlying aquifer and adjacent brook. Ground gas monitoring was also undertaken to assess the potential hazard to construction workers during the project’s future phases.

The Benefit 

The investigative and monitoring processes have provided critical insights for:

• • Controlled Waters Risk Assessment: Identifying and mitigating potential contamination risks to water sources.
  • Ground Gas Risk Assessment: Assessing potential health risks for construction workers.
  • Foundation Design Recommendations: Providing Oldham MBC with tailored recommendations for the foundation requirements of the solar panel installation, ensuring safety, stability, and environmental compliance.