What did last year's event cover?

9.00 Registration and Coffee

9.30 Opening Remarks from the Session Chair 

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Karlene Doherty, Vacant Property Development Officer, Place Development Team, Perth and Kinross Council

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9.40 National Planning Framework 4 – Delivering Change

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• National priorities and outcomes

• Spatial priorities and national planning policy

• Place-based delivery

Fiona Simpson, Chief Planner, Scottish Government

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10.05 Delivering NPF4: The Role of Land

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• Examining the main objectives of NPF4 including land re-use and net zero

• The implications of our current housing model being largely based on the development of greenfield land

• Exploring how we can learn from examples of brownfield development in Scotland and in Europe

• Proposing how changes to the way we assemble land and evaluate investment decisions can support a shift from greenfield development to land re-use in order to support the delivery of NPF4

David Stewart, Policy & Practice Lead, Scottish Land Commission 

10.30 Working Together to Bring Brownfield Land Back into Use: Case Study of a Vacant and Derelict Land Community-led Regeneration Project

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This presentation will detail a two-year, action partnership project between Development Trusts Association Scotland (DTAS) and the Scottish Land Commission (SLC) which began in July 2020. The project supported the community-led regeneration of small vacant or derelict sites, including land or buildings.

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The project demonstrated that with additional capacity-building support for communities, progress on community-led regeneration of vacant & derelict land (VDL) can be achieved, and positive outcomes delivered. It also demonstrates that the community can bring fresh perspectives and energy not available within traditional public sector delivery routes, finding its own solutions to seemingly intractable development challenges.

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Pauline Smith, Chief Executive, Development Trusts Association Scotland (DTAS)

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This project won the Best Public Sector / Not for Profit Brownfield Project Award at Environment Analyst's 2022 Brownfield Awards

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10.55 Q&A

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11.10 Morning Refreshments & Networking

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Session Chair: Dr Christine Switzer, Lecturer, Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Strathclyde

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11.40 Case Study: Complex Conceptualisation of Creosote - the Curious Case of DNAPL Migration into an Artesian Aquifer

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A valuable case study demonstrating the importance of identifying limitations and uncertainty in conceptual site models – as mandated by NQMS.

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The site comprises a five hectare site identified as ‘vacant land’ formerly occupied by a sawmill and timber works from 1910 – 2010. Fife Council secured monies from its allocation of the Scottish Government Vacant and Derelict Land Fund to unlock comprehensive investigations on this complex site to progress regeneration of the site and surrounding area.

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RSK completed a phased approach to investigation and used multiple lines of evidence to demonstrate the presence of a pollutant linkage involving migration of creosote DNAPL into a confined bedrock aquifer despite presence of up to 11 m of cohesive till and artesian conditions. Key uncertainties and their implications for site assessment conclusions and remediation requirements were clearly identified and the implications for site redevelopment and remediation were outlined. This project won the Environment Analyst Brownfield Award 2022 for Best Project Preparatory Work.

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Helen McMillan, Associate Director and QRA Technical Lead, RSK Geosciences

12.10 Exploring Emerging Contaminants

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What's all the pressure about? Dr Ken Scally MSc FRSC will introduce the emerging contaminant 6PPD-Quinone which is a chemical used in rubber tyres and can cause acute toxicity in coho salmon.

The presentation will also cover other emerging contaminants, including pharmaceuticals and personal care products, 1,4-Dioxane, fire retardants - polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), amongst others, and of course, we can't have a presentation on emerging contaminants and not mention something about PFAS!

Dr Ken Scally, Technical and Quality Director, SUEZ

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This talk is in collaboration with Dr Kenia Whitehead and Dr Graham Ansell of GSI Environmental Inc., who have provided the USA perspective.

12.35 Working Towards Circular Economy Practices with Materials on Brownfield Development Projects

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• Reviewing existing guidance, new policy and likely changes to legislation to further encourage the re-use and recycling of all development materials, including soils:

  • new aggregates tax and possible exemptions

• Exploring examples of current practice with regards to legal permitting

• Assessing the practical challenges of enforcing current SEPA guidance

Laura Tainsh, Partner, Davidson Chalmers Stewart LLP

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13.05 Networking Lunch

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Welcome Back from the Afternoon Chair:

Dr Christine Switzer, Lecturer, Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Strathclyde

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14.00 Case Study: Remediation of Former Auldcathie Landfill, Winchburgh

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• Outlining the history and development planning context 

• Developing the site within the SEPA Regime

• Detailing the technical response and design solution

• Community benefits and project outcome 

John Hamilton, Chief Executive, Winchburgh Developments

Duncan Pickering, Technical Manager Land Quality, Sweco

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This project won the Best Sustainable/Urban Regeneration/Infrastructure Scheme Award at Environment Analyst's 2022 Brownfield Awards.

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14.30 Panel Discussion: Improving the Quality of Gas Protection Installation & Verification 

• Understanding the regulatory and policy guidance and applying it to design specifications

  • including key criteria outlined in BS8485:2015+A1:2019 regarding the design and specification of suitable gas membranes

  • evaluating appropriate use of the BS4845 points system and where / how it can be used

  • understanding the inter-relationship between risk assessment and protection design

• Better understanding the implications of protection measures stated as “required” or “recommended”: the importance of early consideration of gas protection 

• Reviewing the take-up and success of accreditation schemes and the extent to which adequate competency can and should be demonstrated - ensuring independent verification

• Gas protection post-planning and development - how to ensure continuing protection once conditions are verified and signed off  

• Effective collaboration to achieve a holistic approach to designing and installing gas protection measures

Kevin Mitchell, UK Technical Manager, Butek Landline, Butyl Products Group

Kirstie Ogilvie, Contaminated Land Officer, South Lanarkshire Council

Ian Cochrane, Director, Mason Evans Partnership

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15.05 Afternoon Refreshments & Networking

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15.30 Interactive Roundtable Session 

These focused, interactive, break-out sessions give you the opportunity to discuss a key topic of interest to you in a more participative format. Each small group will be led by a facilitator who will lead the discussion and encourage maximum debate and sharing of ideas.

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If you would like to suggest a topic for inclusion in this session please get in touch.

A. Community Wealth Building and Land

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Community wealth building (CWB) is a people-centred approach to local economic development, which redirects wealth back into the local economy, and places control and benefits of assets and resources into the hands of local people. It has been adopted by the Scottish Government as a practical means by which to deliver well-being economy objectives.

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How we own, manage, and use our land is key to Community Wealth Building (CWB) and forms one of five pillars of the CWB approach. The Scottish Land Commission has developed guidance on the land and property pillar of CWB, setting out practical actions that can be taken to use and manage land productively and in the public interest.

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In this roundtable we will discuss what a CWB approach to management and ownership of land looks like, what actions can be taken to support this approach, and the opportunities it presents to support re-use of land and buildings.

Gemma Campbell, Land Rights and Responsibilities Manager, Scottish Land Commission

B. Best Practice in Detailing & Designing Appropriate Gas Protection Measures

Discussing how best to achieve a holistic, collaborative approach to designing and detailing gas protection measures.

Kevin Mitchell, UK Technical Manager, Butek Landline, Butyl Products Group

C. Adapting the Brownfield Redevelopment and Assessment Process to Account for Climate Change

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

Helen McMillan, Associate Director and QRA Technical Lead, RSK Geosciences

D. A Developer’s Perspective on NP4

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An opportunity to discuss with John the changes NP4 will mean for the way land is brought forward for development and what support is needed for developers.

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John Hamilton, Chief Executive, Winchburgh Developments

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E. Working towards a Circular Economy Approach in Brownfield & Infrastructure Development

Darren Beriro, Geoscientist, British Geological Survey

F. Exploring Alternative Uses for Brownfield Sites (solar, EV charging, community land, rewilding) 

Dr Donald Payne, Land & Air Quality Officer, Fife Council

G. Tackling the Skills Shortage: Solutions to Improve Resource Constraints within the Brownfield Sector

16.30 Roundtable Feedback

Each break-out session facilitator will briefly share the key learning points from their discussion with the audience.

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17.00 Closing Remarks from the Chair and Close of Conference followed by a Complimentary Drinks Reception