9.00 Registration and Networking

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9.30 Welcome from Environment Analyst

 

9.35 Opening Remarks from the Morning Chair

 

Phil Studds, Regional Director of Environment, Ramboll 

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9.40 Navigating the New WAT-G-071 Guidance for Assessing Risks to Ground & Surface Water 

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SEPA published the updated guidance WAT-G-071 (previously WAT-PS-10-02) on “Assigning Groundwater Assessment Criteria for Pollutant Inputs” in early 2025 with an implementation transition period to July 2025. Since then, both operators and regulators have been adjusting to the day-to-day practicalities of applying the revised standards to real-world sites.    

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This presentation will highlight the key implications of the guidance for site characterisation and groundwater risk assessment, including dealing with hazardous and non-hazardous substances; updated screening criteria; and reporting requirements.

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Isla Smail, Principal Hydrogeologist – Water Resources Unit, Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) 

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10.10 Implementing the Sustainable Management of Soils  

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Effective soil management not only ensures good soil health, which plays a critical role in achieving climate resilience, carbon sequestration and strengthening ecosystems, it also provides cost-effective solutions to site restoration and resource / waste management.

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This panel will discuss the value of soil as a resource and how improved soil management plays a crucial role in sustainable brownfield remediation and development. 

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• Defining and classifying urban soil resources: their physical nature and functionality, as well as contributions to the urban environment, health and wellbeing    

• Exploring Scottish and UK-wide strategies for managing soil through effective land use, sustainable waste recovery, targeted planning policy, financial incentives and resource management options 

• Developing appropriate soil practices to support biodiversity gains, nature recovery, sustainable drainage and wider sustainability goals: 

  • identifying the key barriers to the sustainable reuse of soils and how these can be overcome  

  • good practice in non-invasive site investigation to protect the soil 

  • applying the soil management hierarchies in Scotland 

• Assessing the impact of contamination (including microplastics, PFAS, agrochemicals, pharmaceuticals) in soils and approaches for remediation or managing options for reuse

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Chair: Phil Studds, Regional Director of Environment, Ramboll

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Dr Roy Neilson, Group Leader Plant Soil Interactions, Ecological Sciences, The James Hutton Institute

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Sarah Hamill, Contaminated Land Officer, West Dunbartonshire Council

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10.45 Morning Refreshments & Networking

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11.15 Achieving a Place-Based Approach to Site Restoration and Development to Accomplish Climate and Social Goals

 

Site restoration is not just about “cleaning-up” a contaminated site. Achieving purpose-driven development with a holistic approach that integrates social value and biodiversity as economic drivers and increases the value of a site as an asset for all involved, can help develop smaller or more challenging sites, support multiple community and sustainability goals and influence longer-term change. 

 

This panel discussion will explore solutions for unlocking sites and maximising land value, including:  

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• Assessing the effectiveness of policy drivers in place to encourage developers to consider and prioritise re-use of brownfield sites 

• Managing the challenges of land availability (size, location) and improving early site identification and prioritisation   

• Ensuring a risk-based, site-specific approach to the remedial and development strategy 

• Leveraging early stakeholder engagement and collaboration to reduce risk and optimise delivery success: 

  • ​involving and empowering communities in transforming their space

Chair: Heather Claridge, Group Manager - Strategic Spatial Planning, Glasgow City Region

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Kevin Murphy, Director of Planning, Homes for Scotland

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Tim Wilson, Director, OVERGROWN and Chair, Landscape Institute Scotland

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Pauline Grandison, Head of Operations Scotland, The Coalfields Regeneration Trust

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12.00 Exploring New & Emerging Contaminants of Interest

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6PPD-Quinone and Diphenylguanidine: An Emerging Contaminant on the Fast Track - Tracing Tyre-Derived Toxins from Foruma 1 to Electric Vehicles

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6PPD-quinone (6PPD-q), an oxidation product of the tyre antiozonant 6PPD, has emerged as a high-priority environmental contaminant due to its acute toxicity to aquatic species at very low concentrations. Alongside diphenylguanidine (DPG), another tyre-related compound, it is increasingly recognised as part of the chemical load associated with tyre wear particles, a major microplastic source in urban environments. Interest has intensified with the higher tyre abrasion rates linked to electric vehicles and high-performance motorsport. Detection relies on advanced LC-MS/MS methods, which continue to face challenges in standardisation and matrix effects. Growing evidence of persistence and toxicity underscores the need for improved monitoring, regulatory attention, and innovation in tyre formulation and urban runoff mitigation. 

 

Dr Ken Scally, Technical and Quality Director, Normec DETS and Normec Latis Scientific Laboratories 

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12.25 Networking Lunch

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13.30 Welcome back from the Afternoon Chair

 

Patricia Enot, Managing Consultant, Ramboll 

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13.30 Interactive Roundtable Sessions

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This ever-popular session gives all attendees the opportunity to discuss a key topic of interest in a focused, interactive, and small-group format. Each session will be led by a facilitator who will lead the discussion and encourage maximum debate and sharing of ideas. Attendees choose ONE topic table to attend.  

 

A. Leveraging Partnerships and Collaborative Relationships to Reduce Risk, Add Value and Maximise Site Delivery  

 

B. Managing Data Gaps and Uncertainties to Develop a Robust, Effective and Site-Specific Conceptual Site Model (CSM)   

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Dominic Young, Specialist Contaminated Land Officer, Renfrewshire Council & Member of the IES Land Condition Community Steering Group & Member of the SoBRA Executive Committee  

 

C. Maximising the Natural Capital Value of Brownfield Sites 

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A natural capital framework provides a useful lens to support and evaluate brownfield land regeneration. This roundtable will discuss holistic land regeneration approaches that integrate remediation into wider redevelopment or restoration plans and explore how nature-based solutions can be used to support these efforts.   

 

D. Optimising Land Use & Site Restoration to Achieve Climate & Sustainability Goals 

 

E. Exploring the Use and Development of Brownfield Sites for Renewable Energy Development   

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Simon Broster, Head of Development, Peel Ports Group 

 

F. PFAS on Brownfield Sites: How Consultants and Local Authorities Can Assess Data and Advise Clients Amid Regulatory Uncertainty

 

As PFAS regulations continue to develop, how can consultants and local authorities evaluate site investigation data and manage advice today on risk, remediation, and liability?    

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Clare Llowarch, Technical Director, Normec i2 Analytical

 

G. Integrating Landscape-Led Design with Remedial Strategy to Deliver Social, Economic & Nature-Positive Development

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Kirstin Taylor, Director, LDA Design

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H. Exploring how NPF4 is Being Translated into Local Development Plans 

 

14.15 Afternoon Refreshments & Networking 

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14.45 Minding the Gap for Biodiversity – Combining Novel and Traditional Methods to Assess Brownfield Biodiversity

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Minding the Gap for Biodiversity is a partnership project between Edinburgh Napier University, Balfour Beatty and National Highways. The project has taken a holistic approach to measuring biodiversity across a suite of sites within the Historical Railway Estate. Combining traditional and novel (e.g. passive acoustic monitoring and environmental DNA) approaches has enabled us to assess diversity from a wide range of organisms. Our results show that, even when compared with ancient woodland, these sites are highly biodiverse and make a significant contribution to landscape biodiversity.

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Dr Jennifer Dodd, Associate Professor, Centre for Conservation and Restoration Science, School of Applied Sciences, Edinburgh Napier University

 

15.00 Maximising Nature & Biodiversity Net Gain in Site Remediation and Restoration 

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• Clarifying the measures outlined in the Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill and the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy that impact on brownfield land development 

  • legally binding nature recovery targets 

  • habitat protection and creation   

• Identifying solutions and strategies for effectively embedding BNG into regeneration projects and helping to bring vacant and derelict land sites back into use: 

  • what support is available to achieve targets? 

  • outlining the business case for putting nature front and centre in land management and site development plans  

  • ensuring compliant application within and across multiple sites and to smaller sites   ​

• Effectively delivering additional societal benefits via Nature-based Solutions 

 

Charlotte Grant, Ecology Business Partner, Keepmoat

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Dr Jennifer Dodd, Associate Professor, Centre for Conservation and Restoration Science, School of Applied Sciences, Edinburgh Napier University

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Vikki Patton, Head of Department, Nature Positive Services, Ramboll 

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15.45 Identifying and Leveraging Funding Sources and Financial Mechanisms Available for Contaminated Land Redevelopment and Urban Regeneration in Scotland

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How to build a successful business case to access different funding sources and mechanisms that are available, to whom, and for what types of projects, and case study examples of brownfield development projects that have received this funding.​

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16.30 Closing Remarks from the Chair followed by a Networking Drinks Reception