This document discusses environmental liability issues and provides a case study of a former print works site. It notes increasing empty property rates have led to more prosecutions for asbestos violations. It advises considering consultants', surveyors', and contractors' licenses, accreditations, and memberships when procuring them. Temporary land uses and vehicle washing effluent can make freeholders liable as knowing permitters. A case study outlines how a print works site acquired in 2003 faced liability risks in 2010 during a bank's debt refinancing due to the developer knowingly permitting contamination. The document promotes WSP Environmental Liability Solutions to manage such risks.

1. Environmental Liability Solutions
Neil Foster, Associate Director
neil.foster@wspgroup.com

2. ENVIRONMENTAL LIABILITY
Current Day Liability Issues
Case Study
Why WSP Developed Active
Transfer
Liability Management Tools
WSP Environmental Liability
Solutions
Case Studies

3. Liability Issues – Current Economic Climate
Empty Property Rates = increase in demolition = increase in asbestos related
prosecutions for:
Forging asbestos licences
Illegal disposals
Unlicensed removals
Substandard removal
Inadequate surveying
Consider your procurement strategy for consultants, surveyors and contractors alike
Licences
Accreditations and trade association memberships
Financial standing

4. Liability Issues – Current Economic Climate
Informal and temporary land uses
Trade effluent consent breaches
associated with vehicle washing
Freeholders may be classed as
knowing permitter / Class B polluter

5. Case Study – Former Print Works
2003 Site acquired;
2006 Contamination assessments in
support of development
proposals;
2007 Development plans put on hold
due to market;
2008 Principle funding bank subject to
acquisition;
2010 Bank re-examining portfolio and
as part of a debt refinancing
exercise;
2010 Site identified as high liability risk
due to developer “knowingly
permitting”;
2011 - ??

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