In short, the Phase 1 objective is to identify risks and put them into context (if they exist). So, by far the most important element of your Phase 1 report is the delivery of a simple yet robust description of risks at your site in a format referred to as a Conceptual Site Model or CSM.
Depending on the specific nature of the site and what the desk study finds, the CSM might be presented as a table or as a diagram, or both. What you are looking for is a clear, concise description of the findings and for these to be put into context, click on the following images for examples of how a CSM might look.
You might be provided with a series of photographs and historic maps, annotated to present risk areas and then a table providing an assessment of those risks, while the example below does not include a risk ranking, you might also be provided with a rank of low to high risk:
To put things into context you may also be presented with a model of your site, usually a simple, not to scale illustration just to help set the stall for any future investigations, like this one:
The detail in the CSM becomes that bit more critical when a site is found to have environmental issues needing further investigation, which will be outlined in the upcoming blogs and available on our soon to be published White Papers: “Everything you wanted to know about Phase 1 Site Investigations, but were afraid to ask” and “Everything you wanted to know about Phase 2 Site Investigations, but were afraid to ask”.
We’re happy to talk so feel free to contact us on 0800 0209 307 or e-mail us on info@soilutions.co.uk. While we finish our White Papers on Phase 1 and Phase 2 Investigations, why not check out these related blogs:
What is a Phase 1 Environmental Investigation?
Do I need a Phase 1 Environmental Site Investigation

Guide to Phase 1 Investigations
This free guide will help you learn about Phase 1 Investigations in the simplest terms. Download it now for free!
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