Brownfield Land Scotland 2027
2 February 2027, Glasgow
2026 EVENT AGENDA
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9.00 Registration and Networking
9.30 Welcome from Environment Analyst
9.35 Opening Remarks from the Morning Chair:
Phil Studds, Regional Director of Environment, Ramboll
9.40 Navigating the New WAT-G-071 Guidance for Assessing Risks to Ground & Surface Water
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.
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.
WAT-G-071: An Industry Perspective of Implementing the Guidance
This presentation will discuss the methodology and approach that Fairhurst have undertaken when assessing the risk to the Water Environment in accordance with WAT-G-071. The discussion will focus on the assessments undertaken as part of the regeneration of a large Brownfield Site within the central belt of Scotland. Each of these assessments has been subject to Regulatory review (Local Authority Contaminated Land Officer and SEPA), with approval obtained.
Craig Laughlan, Principal Geo-Environmental Engineer, Fairhurst
10.25 Achieving the Sustainable Management of Soils
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.
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
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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
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Developing appropriate soil practices to support biodiversity gains, nature recovery, sustainable drainage and wider sustainability goals:
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identifying the key barriers to the sustainable reuse of soils and how these can be overcome
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good practice in non-invasive site investigation to protect the soil
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applying the soil management hierarchies in Scotland
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Assessing the impact of contamination (including microplastics, PFAS, agrochemicals, pharmaceuticals) in soils and approaches for remediation or managing options for reuse
Chair: Phil Studds, Regional Director of Environment, Ramboll
11.10 Morning Refreshments & Networking
11.30 Achieving a Place-Based Approach to Site Restoration and Development to Achieve 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
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Managing the challenges of land availability (size, location) and improving early site identification and prioritisation
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Ensuring a risk-based, site-specific approach to the remedial and development strategy
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Leveraging early stakeholder engagement and collaboration to red[AR5.1][AR5.2]uce risk and optimise delivery success:
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involving and empowering communities in transforming their space
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using a landscape design-led approach to create thriving and resilient neighbourhoods and deliver long-term environmental and social value
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Chair: Heather Claridge, Group Manager - Strategic Spatial Planning, Glasgow City Region
12.15 Exploring New & Emerging Contaminants of Interest
Tyre-Derived Contaminants as Emerging Pollutants - from F1 to Electric Vehicles
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
12.40 Networking Lunch
13.40 Welcome back from the Afternoon Chair:
Patricia Enot, Managing Consultant, Ramboll
13.45 Interactive Roundtable Discussion
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)
C. Maximising the Natural Capital Value of Brownfield Sites
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.
Vikki Patton, Head of Department, Nature Positive Services, Ramboll
D. Optimising Land Use & Site Restoration to Achieve Climate & Sustainability Goals
E. Exploring the Use and Development of Brownfield Sites for Renewable Energy Development
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?
Clare Llowarch, Technical Director, Normec i2 Analytical
G. Integrating Landscape-Led Design with Remedial Strategy to Deliver Social, Economic & Nature-Positive Development
This roundtable explores how landscape-led, cross-disciplinary approaches to land remediation can unlock greater social, economic and environmental value, moving beyond remediation as a purely technical exercise. It will examine how early landscape thinking, collaboration across disciplines, planning and policy, temporary landscapes and nature-based solutions can shape end-use value, funding, investor confidence and community benefit. The session will be interactive and future-focused, drawing on real project experience to define best practice over the next five years.
Kirstin Taylor, Director, LDA Design
12.20 Decoding Coal Tar for Smarter Waste Classification at Contaminated Land Sites
Utilising forensic analysis of PAHs and their alkylated derivatives offers valuable insights into the origin and nature of contamination. By unveiling coal tar’s hidden signature, this session discusses the evidence base for accurate waste classification, supporting more precise regulatory decisions under WM3 and ADEPT guidelines.
Ken Scally, Technical & Quality Director, Normec DETS
14.30 Afternoon Refreshments & Networking
15.00 Minding the Gap for Biodiversity – Combining Novel and Traditional Methods to Assess Brownfield Biodiversity
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.
15.15 Maximising Nature & Biodiversity Net Gain in Site Remediation and Restoration
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Identifying solutions and strategies for effectively embedding BNG into regeneration projects and helping to bring vacant and derelict land sites back into use:
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what support is available to achieve targets?
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outlining the business case for putting nature front and centre in land management and site development plans - effectively developing and using BNG metrics
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ensuring compliant application within and across multiple sites and to smaller sites
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Effectively delivering additional societal benefits via Nature-based Solutions
Chair: Karen Sutherland, Director of Operations, Green Action Trust
16.00 Closing Remarks from the Chair followed by a Networking Drinks Reception