Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
and its context. The opportunity plan allows the Brownfield process manager
(BPM) to put that site in the context of the settlement in which it is located and
explore the various needs for redevelopment. It comprises a spatial strengths-
weaknesses-opportunities-threats SWOT analysis of the site in its current and
likely future context which spawns a series of feasible regeneration options
...
So what are the different facets of the assessment - the SWOT analysis.
•
Strengths - may include skilled workforce, diverse economic base,
location, age of workforce, cultural heritage etc.
•
Weaknesses - unskilled workforce, single industry, poor locations, long
term health problems etc.
•
Opportunities - new business, community spirit, skilled workforce,
location etc.
•
Threats - dereliction, crime, health, unemployment, displacement of
services, jobs etc. to other settlements.
As can be seen the Opportunity Plan requires a Brownfield Manager to
undertake a broad analysis, not just a technical site assessment, if benefits are
to be maximised. The technical assessment and detailed studies will follow on.
25.8 International Brownfield Definitions
There is no internationally agreed definition of the term “Brownfield”. Three defi-
nitions from the EU, UK and USA are discussed below. The consequence of these
differing definitions is that specific sites considered Brownfields under one defini-
tion would not be under another (Table
25.2
). The consensus view is that Brownfield
sites pose obstacles to their redevelopment in addition to those posed by previ-
ously undeveloped sites. What is less widely appreciated is that Brownfields can
come with a
de
facto dowry of infra-structure or good access or location or previous
workforce that would be difficult to create from scratch on a “Greenfield” site.
25.8.1 Europe Union
In the mid 1990s, CARACAS (Concerted Action on Risk Assessment for
Contaminated Sites in the European Union; Umweltbundesamt
2009
) brought
together scientists, regulators and policy makers to define the state of the art of
contaminated land Risk Assessment across Europe (Ferguson and Kasamas
1999
)
and to develop a consensus on what such Risk Assessment involved (Ferguson et al.
1998
). CLARINET (Contaminated Land Rehabilitation Network for Environmental
Technologies in Europe) extended the work of CARACAS to consider how to
rehabilitate contaminated sites. This included considering Brownfields and led to
the formation of the CABERNET network and the RESCUE project.
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