Project Integra in Hampshire is one of the largest waste management contracts in the UK.  In addition to the provision of waste to energy and recycling plants, the contract has required Hampshire Waste Services Limited (part of the Vivendi Group) to complete and restore a number of older landfill sites formerly operated by the County.  The first of these sites, near Fareham, has now been restored by Hampshire Waste Services and Robert Long Consultancy was commissioned to carry out an independent audit of the facility in order to allow commencement of procedures for the handback of the land to the County's Estates Division.

The audit involved: 

·       a detailed inspection of the depth and quality of restoration soils (using trial pits);

·       assessment of the nature and success of grassland, tree and hedgerow planting;

·       a topographical survey of the final landform and drainage infrastructure;

·       assessment of accordance of fencing, gates and other infrastructure, with approved specifications; and

·       consideration of the effectiveness of landfill gas and leachate control equipment.

The site is home to an established badger colony residing in a former topsoil bund and an ephemeral colony of the nationally rare plant Yellow Bartsia.  Our audit included an assessment of the effectiveness of the measures which had been implemented to conserve these unusual features of the site.

We will be carrying out further restoration audits on other Hampshire landfill sites during the next year.  The project is being managed by Ben Arnold.