This year saw a record number of entries to the fourth annual BB Remediation Innovation Awards.
The Awards were announced in front of an audience of over 300 people, including major names in the remediation industry and their clients, after a celebratory dinner held at the Radisson SAS Portman Hotel on 16 September.
The host for the evening was Chris Baines, TV presenter and one of UK's leading environmental campaigners, advising government and industry on environmental practice. Chris talked through the shortlist for all eight categories, inviting presenters to announce the final winners.
In a gloomy economic climate, where innovation could offer remediation companies a competitive advantage, it is encouraging to report that the category with the most entries was "Most innovative remediation method".
Of this category, Clive Boyle, one of the judges, commented: "With much of what might have been considered innovative in previous years now becoming good practice, it is encouraging to see such a strong field of entries, demonstrating real innovation, in this category." The judges were pleased to note a number of new concepts entering the field, as well as some new names.
"We were pleased by the enthusiastic response from the industry", said Anna Cairncross of Brownfield Briefing. "We received more than double the number of entries this year which is an indication of the quality of the work being carried out here in UK and how seriously people take recognition of winning these Awards."
The categories
The awards were divided into single and combined methods of remediation techniques, with separate awards for the most innovative remediation method, best conceptual design, best verification project and most sustainable project. In addition, and new for 2008, were awards for best communications/stakeholder engagement and best recovery of land for heritage/community use.
For full details of the winning entries, along with judges' comments and names of the finalists and their projects, contact awards@brownfieldbriefing.com or go to http://www.brownfieldawards.com/
Entries for 2009 will be called for in March 2009 with the Awards dinner and presentation on 15 September.
The judges
All entries were assessed by an independent panel of judges, chaired by Mike Summersgill of RSK ENSR and the CL:AIRE Technology and Research Group.
Clive Boyle, EIC Commission Contaminated Land Working Group
Dr John Campbell, formerly Rio Tino (retired) and CL:AIRE TRG
Phil Crowcroft, ERM and Chair of SiLC
Prof Stephan Jefferis, University of Surrey
Prof David Lerner, University of Sheffield, and CL:AIRE TRG
Dr Gordon Lethbridge, Shell Global Solutions and CL:AIRE TRG
Matthew Whitehead, Environment Agency
The winners
Best use of a single treatment technique
Tamdown Regeneration - Former gasworks, Chertsey, Surrey
Best use of a combination of techniques
Olympic Delivery Authority - Olympic Park Project
Best conceptual design
Churngold and RPS - Former ICI facility, Thornton, Cleveleys
Most innovative remediation method
Terra Vac - Groundwater decontamination using Six-Phase heating, Sheffield
Best project closure/verification project
URS - Autonomous field verification, Newton Aycliffe
Most sustainable remediation project
Celtic - Remediation works at a West Midlands gasworks
Best communications/stakeholder engagement
Grontmij and The Environment Agency - Remediation under Part2A, West Street, Yarm
Best recovery of land for heritage/community use
Clydebank re-built - Project Queens Quay, Clydebank
Sponsors
Landmark, ERM, GroundSure, National Grid, NHBC
Supported by
BURA and IEMA
