Environmental Management System

Heavy industrial processes were operated at The Avenue site for many years; these took place when environmental standards within industry were lower than they are today. The former coke and by-products manufacturing plant that can still be seen on site was in use from the 1950"s until the early 1990"s and it is now in a derelict state. Other features of the historical uses of the site are also evident, including deep mineshafts, tar and lime sludge lagoons, and a waste tip. The operation of heavy industrial processes on the site has resulted in significant impacts to the local soil, groundwater and surface water resources.

 

As the organisation responsible for the property, emda recognises that it has a responsibility to improve the environmental condition of the Avenue site. The overall aim of the project now being undertaken is to regenerate the site so that it is fit for beneficial re-use and to generate significant environmental improvements in the local area. emda is committed to continually improving environmental performance during the regeneration of the site in order to reduce the site"s negative impact on the environment, and wherever possible, to generate environmental benefits. This commitment is not confined to emda; it extends to all parties involved with the project to regenerate The Avenue site.

 

To ensure that all work at the site is carried out in an environmentally responsible manner, emda and its partners have made a commitment to develop and maintain an environmental management system (EMS) for the duration of the project. We began to develop and implement the system over three years ago, having been certified to the standard since November 2001. The re-certification was recommended by external auditors, Lloyds Register of Quality Assurance, LRQA. The standard requires the environmental issues of the site to be identified, including the views of other parties, and managed such that continual improvement in environmental performance is achieved.