LK Group - LK Group expands into Scotland
FAST growing environmental land consultancy LK Group
has opened its first Scottish office off the back of
growing demand for its services, and directors are
confident of creating 20 new jobs over the next few
months.
The Scottish division will be headed by Dr Robert Muir,
who was previously Senior Geoenvironmental specialist at
NPL Estates and Omnitech.
The company is already working on projects with SEPA
(Scottish Environment Protection Agency), PWP
Consulting, Woolgar Hunter Ltd, Taylor Woodrow and
Ground Developments Ltd.
Dr Muir said:
"LK Group is picking up an increasing number of projects
in Scotland so it made sense to open a local office.
Scotland has a formidable reputation for developing
environmental scientists and engineers and we hope to
tap into a fertile pool of top quality graduates and
experienced practitioners."
An ardent supporter of the regeneration of brownfield
sites in Scotland as an answer to the country's housing
shortage, Dr Muir said:
"There are a lot of misconceptions about the cost of
brownfield regeneration. The reality is that as more
specialists enter the market and methods become more
sophisticated, the costs are going down.
"It would be a travesty if the green belt areas across
Scotland were sacrificed when there is so much well
positioned land that would be ideal for housing.
"What's needed is a bit of foresight and not a
short-term quick fix that will only compound the problem
further for future generations."
A Scottish Executive report published last month stated
that 270,000 extra homes are needed over the next nine
years to satisfy demand for affordable housing.
Yet a report by the same Executive in 2004 (Scottish
Vacant and Derelict Land Survey 2003) showed that
Scotland has 4,222 brownfield sites, accounting for
10,847 hectares, that are ripe for development.
"It's a ridiculous situation," adds Dr Muir. "Only last
week it was announced that a group of local authorities
in the east of Scotland is looking at the 64 square
miles of green belt around Edinburgh with a view to
releasing it for regeneration. They should be looking at
clearing up brownfield sites instead and protecting this
beautiful country.
"Aggressive redevelopment is needed. We should be
looking at cities south of the border like Manchester
and Liverpool which have been successfully regenerated.
They haven't let their strong industrial past prevent
redevelopment. Instead they have implemented policies to
retain their green belt spaces and have taken a
pragmatic approach by going back to basics by clearing
up and regenerating brownfield sites instead. It shows
great foresight."
LK Group comprises four specialist divisions:
• Leyden Kirby Associates, a specialist environmental
consultancy majoring upon contaminated land appraisals
and quantitative risk assessments; site investigations
and geoenvironmental studies; land remediation design
and management; and asbestos surveys and management.
• LK Pollution Response, which offers practical services
in response to pollution incidents, and specialises in
the remediation of sites infested with invasive
non-native plant species such as Japanese Knotweed,
Giant Hogweed and Rhododendrons, all of which are
recognised as being the single biggest threat to
Scotland's unique natural habitation.
• LK Management which provides project management
services to the property development and land use
industries.
• LK Accreditation which tests and inspects gas,
electrical and water supply installations, including air
tightness testing.
Email:
ruth@rmspr.co.uk
Arundel Jones Associates Ltd
Hill Farm, Linton Hill, Maidstone, Kent ME17 4AL
Tel : 01622 745333
news@buildingdesign.co.uk
Registered in England and Wales No. 07334149
News Categories : Brownfield site development
regeneration Scotland
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Brownfield
site development regeneration Scotland
