A site-specific report justifying a proposed basement development and considering its potential impacts on groundwater and surface water flows.
Designed to meet planning requirements.
Rated Excellent on Trustpilot
A BIA reviews a proposed basement development and its impacts on the site and local area.
Basement development can raise some concerns – there is a potential for development to cause issues with groundwater levels and surface water/sewerage flooding, as well as the possibility of a loss of local environmental features such as gardens, trees, and biodiversity.
You will need to ensure your proposed basement development is appropriate and that policies have been met where required.
Environmental reports provided.
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Value of properties advised on flood risk
Please note GeoSmart do not cover structural elements.
Navigating environmental reports can be complex. We’ve answered the most common queries about our data, timescales, and planning suitability below.
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It should be noted that there is no national guidance on how to produce a BIA, so you will need to review your Local Authority’s guidance closely. GeoSmart can assist you with this.
Local Authorities will have their own requirements for the assessment – GeoSmart have worked on a number of basement impact assessments across the country, though London boroughs tend to be the most concerned and stringent.
Site Investigation will more than likely be required to present evidence on the initial findings. This could include:
London Boroughs make up much of this list. Research by Newcastle University has showed that Hammersmith and Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea, and Westminster have had the most basement developments on record in London, so it’s likely they will require a BIA to be submitted with your planning application.
This will depend on your Local Authority’s planning requirements as well as the development itself.
GeoSmart can usually complete the initial desktop screening BIA report within 3 weeks from receipt of all required drawings, information, and payment.
Further works and their timescales will depend on what is required.
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“We are very pleased with the service provided by GeoSmart. Their reports have been used to assist with numerous planning applications and have always been delivered to budget and on-time, much to our clients’ appreciation. We look forward to working with GeoSmart on future projects.”
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“The service was great, fast and efficient. Everyone we talked to was very helpful and the details were well received by the planners”
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“We were impressed by the speedy, well-informed service and personal contact that we received. The report was thorough and comprehensive. We will certainly use GeoSmart’s services in the future”
I was concerned to find out that my house was at a ‘moderate risk’ of groundwater flooding. I was unable to get any further information from anyone until I contacted GeoSmart. The staff I spoke to were friendly, helpful, efficient and extremely knowledgeable. The information provided was very site…
I now purchase GeoSmart’s Groundwater Flood Risk maps regularly – always a very speedy response to the both the initial request and, more importantly, delivery of the data! Excellent customer service too. The data is clear and extremely useful for flood risk assessments.
Brilliant customer service.
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