Landfill operations ceased at the site in the early 1970s. In keeping with the standards of the time the former sand & gravel pit had no liner instead receiving a mixture of commercial, industrial, and domestic wastes directly in contact with the ground and surrounding groundwater. A thin layer of cover soil was then placed across the site, and it was turned over to informal horse grazing.
Since then, the site has undergone considerable differential settlement and the thin layer of cover soil has largely been absorbed by the underlying landfill. Consequently, the wider environment is at significant risk from a variety of contaminants including asbestos, heavy metals, and hydrocarbons with uncontrolled landfill gas & leachate. The situation is exacerbated by the differential settlement which allows rainfall/leachate to pond increasing leachate production and in wet conditions uncontrolled overland flow off-site to the local highway drainage and the receiving watercourse
Rural Arisings were appointed by the landowner to work in an informal partnership to restore the land to beneficial use. The chosen option is to convert the land to a new publicly accessible community woodland as a part of Thurrock Council’s Green Grid. We are responsible for managing the entire restoration process including detailed surveys, ground investigation, design, public consultation/liaison, submission of a planning application, construction of the earthworks, stakeholder management, as well as the financial strategy needed to see a project of this scope realised.
The restoration design comprises a gently mounded shape up to 12m deep with inbuilt low permeability clay cap, cover and extensive swale drainage system to collect surface water and discharge it to the same highway drainage as existing but in controlled amounts and in an uncontaminated condition. Leachate is thus mitigated, and provisions are included to manage landfill gas to protect users and adjacent residential areas
The surface is to be a mixture of woodland, scrub and grassland habitats and funding will be set aside for long-term aftercare by a suitable environmental organisation.
The site has species of botanical interest as well as important invertebrates and protected species such as reptiles and badgers. The needs of these species have been incorporated into the scheme.
The scheme will bring long-term benefits to the local community in the form of new green open space with extensive off-road access to the wider green grid. There will be brand new space for nature and recreation with improvements to local highway drainage and conditions in the local watercourses.
The scheme received planning consent by officer decision in late 2021 and work is now in hand to address pre-commencement conditions with enabling works to start on site autumn/winter 2022.