Partner brings extensive experience supporting commercial real estate transactions across the United Kingdom, advising clients on environmental risk across a wide range of asset types and market sectors. Our approach is practical, proportionate, and aligned with RICS guidance, providing clear insight into environmental risk and its potential impact on asset value, development potential, and ongoing use.
Across the UK, Phase 1 Environmental Assessments form a core component of commercial property due diligence. Referred to under RICS guidance as Environmental Due Diligence (EDD) or Environmental Risk Assessment, this process evaluates potential environmental risks associated with a property and its surrounding environment.
Phase 1 Environmental Assessments are designed to identify historical or current contamination issues that may affect a site’s value, redevelopment prospects, or operational use. The process is undertaken in accordance with guidance issued by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and relevant UK and applicable European environmental regulations governing property transactions.
What’s Involved
Partner’s Phase 1 Environmental Assessment services are delivered in line with UK and EU standards and include a structured review of site history, regulatory context, and potential environmental risk factors.
Assessments typically consider:
- Previous and current land use
- Geological and hydrological conditions
- Surrounding land uses and off-site risk sources
- Regulatory records and environmental constraints
Phase 1 Environmental Assessments are non-intrusive and commonly include:
- A detailed site inspection
- Consultation with relevant regulatory bodies
- Review of historical land use records and environmental data
- Interviews with stakeholders and current site operators, where appropriate
Where potential contamination or uncertainty is identified, a Phase 2 Environmental Assessment may be recommended to further investigate and quantify the risk through intrusive testing.
