2023 for Roberts Environmental has been a year of strategizing and growth, for both our personnel and capabilities.

Although the property industry has suffered bouts of economic uncertainty throughout the year off the back of rising energy prices, the conflict in Ukraine and the inflationary effect of industries reopening after Covid lockdowns we are proud of all we have achieved over the past 12 months. We have invested in internal practices and capabilities, technical equipment and our biggest asset, our people.

As we come to the end of 2023, it is with great pride that we look back at the year and the achievements of the team at Roberts Environmental over the past 12 months, in our projects, team and social aspects.

Projects

We have been heavily involved in new development projects across a range of sectors, taking us the length and breadth of the country; expanding into new sectors and providing new services to meet growing demand.

Our Agricultural Land Classification service line has gained traction with an influx of projects across the country. We have been able to demonstrate our technical excellence whilst providing prompt service to meet client requirements and deadlines. ALCs have been carried out for several different clients including land owners, planners, architects, solar companies, and housing developers. The projects have ranged from 1-hectare to 1200-hectaresites.  

Although the investment market has slowed, somewhat due to rising interest rates, reducing confidence and feasibility of borrowing, we have worked alongside multiple building consultancies preparing environmental reports for refinancing and purchaser/vendor surveys during due diligence for transactions including a portfolio of 10 sites across the UK to identify the environmental risks and liabilities for investors, banks and developers,

We supported with the design of a complex, new technologies gas pipeline testing facility, which will play a role in informing the next generation of National Grid supply. The services employed to our Client involved bespoke geotechnical ground investigation and preliminary waste classification services, meeting the requirements of the project delivery team and ensuring that geotechnical risk items associated with the construction of the facility were highlighted for further consideration and mitigation.

REL has undertaken a detailed and complex geo-environmental site investigation at a large site in Seahouses with the potential for up to 26bell pits mapped across the site. The works involved windowless sampling, trial pitting/trenching and rotary boreholes, as well as composite sampling, soakaways following BRE365 and ground gas monitoring. These works have been undertaken to assist the Client in understanding the potential viability of the site for development.

Our continued growth in work with established property consultants such as Savills, Knight Frank and George F White has also been a positive aspect of the last 12 months. Our ability to work alongside such firms and provide geo-environmental expertise to complement their range of skills is always a rewarding and successful partnership.

Within the office and retail sector, we have supported Igloo Regeneration with a range of Geo-environmental services on the development of the Newcastle Upon Tyne Stephenson Quarter to create 200,000 sq. ft of offices, 10,000 sq. ft of cafes/shops and 39,000 sq. ft of heritage building refurbishment. We were approached to assist in the design of a complex intrusive investigation and monitoring exercise at an active industrial site in Welshpool and subsequently lead these works to successful completion. These works were required to support the acquisition of the industrial operation, thereby ensuring our client could consider the implications of potential abnormal ground conditions more robustly prior to contract exchange.

In healthcare, we have worked with clients including Total Property Solutions, Anchor Hanover. and Mariposa Care Group Ltd and Aedifice Partnership to support their new developments in Weymouth, Buckinghamshire and Westerhope.

New Service Lines

New service lines have been introduced over the past year including geotechnical services such as;

Slope Stability Assessments – Determining the natural instability of slopes that need to be considered to reduce the risks to nearby receptors and built environment.

Ground Movement Assessments – Reviewing structural defects and determining whether the floor slab or foundations are suitably mitigated providing advice on the overall feasibility.

Soil Management Plans, which are used to protect and manage soil resources stored on site for future use, developing a plan for cost reduction and waste reduction on site.

Finally, Material Management Plans, which allow materials to be re-used legally during development and earthworks, without risk of future regulatory enforcement and the associated financial penalties.

CPD Talks

2023 has been a busy year for CPD talks with Ben Lawry delivering talks across the country on Geo-Environmental Risks and Opportunities in addition to ESG and Sustainability. In March he delivered a breakfast event in Newcastle discussing the key opportunities for businesses when adopting sustainability practices.

In November Andrew Cuthbert and Lauren Manning delivered a talk about the risks and opportunities for brownfield and greenfield development concerning planning and councils at the Royal Town Planning Institute North East Seminar.

A Stronger and Larger Team

We have expanded our team, expertise and strengthened our leadership over the year.

Ben Bradford joined us in April as a Senior Geotechnical Engineer, quickly demonstrating his ability and commitment and being promoted to Principal Geotechnical Engineer. Ben brings a wealth of geotechnical knowledge having been in the industry since 2017 undertaking large-scale geotechnical investigations and providing outline foundation design for structures, highways structure investigation, slope stability assessment and outline design.

Alex Pattinson joined in September having recently graduated from Durham University with a degree in Geoscience, Alex is a Graduate Geo-environmental consultant and has been learning and working on a wide variety of services in the business. We are looking forward to seeing Alex develop further in the new year.

Lauren Manning has been promoted to Principal Consultant, leading our Agricultural Land Classification service line.

Andrew Cuthbert has been promoted to Associate Director, strengthening our leadership and technical service capacity following becoming a CLA:RE Qualified Person leading on Material Management Plans.  

Rachel Stephenson has moved from graduate to consultant. Rachel also won Student of the Year at the North East G4C awards.  

Fundraising

This year REL Charity of the Year was The Tiny Lives Trust which is a charity that supports the RVI Neonatal Unit in Newcastle helping to make the experience a little easier for parents, families, and babies. We have had a successful year of fundraising including Easter Raffles, Charity Parties and finishing with a sponsored 46km four castle walk around Northumberland. We have been able to raise over £6800 for the charity and would like to thank everyone who has contributed and supported over the year.

Certifications and pledges

We’ve consistently demonstrated our commitment to improving internal practices and employee development and health and wellbeing this year, having been shortlisted for many different awards and achieving the Advanced Good Work Pledge, Silver Constructionline Certification and Advanced CHAS.

In addition, REL became an accredited Living Wage Employer, ensuring that all employees are paid a wage that meets everyday needs, accredited with over 14,000 other employers in the UK.  

The Team

Over the year the team have had a few on social events, visiting the Victoria tunnels in Newcastle learning about their history, office end-of-summer BBQ and then a Christmas day out to York which was enjoyed by all!  

In March Leighton Pearson participated in the CEO Sleep Out to combat poverty and homelessness, this was a fantastic event at St James Park supporting local charities across the North-East.

In the last few months, we have formed a REL indoor cricket team who have been taking weekly matches in the RBC Brewin Dolphin Business League.

We have supported multiple students during their GCSE,A-Level and University studies, providing work-experience within the Geo-Environmental industry and assisting in the development of the next generation of consultants and engineers.

Looking forward to 2024

As 2024 gets closer we are looking forward to what will happen in the new year for the business. Aiming to expand the team with recruitment focusing on enhancing and growing the London Office.