Invasive plant specialist, Environet UK, has launched a new webinar series to help developers understand the risks posed by Japanese knotweed on construction sites and how to deal with it effectively.
Brownfield sites tend to carry a higher risk of contamination by Japanese knotweed, resulting in increased risk to developers. With the last Government budget outlining a £2billion investment in repurposing brownfield sites for new housing developments and related infrastructure, developers are keen to get projects underway and keep schedules on track. In some cases, this has led to a failure to carry out the appropriate knotweed checks and remediation works, leading to a rise in legal claims by new home buyers.
The first webinar in the series, taking place at 10am on 13 September 2022 and led by Environet founder and MD Nic Seal, will explore how early consultancy can deliver value to site owners, how best to keep construction schedules on track with minimal delays, developers’ legal responsibilities and the most cost-effective solutions. This includes information about Japanese knotweed detection dogs, which are trained to detect the unique scent of knotweed rhizome beneath the ground, and how they can assist in checking large sites for knotweed at any time of year.
The second webinar will take place on 15 November 2022 at 10am and be led by Environet director Emily Grant. It will focus on the accurate identification of invasive plants, why they pose a problem to developers and when the experts should be called in. Both webinars will be repeated at 10am on 17 January and 14 March 2023 respectively.
An open Q&A session will follow each event and every registered attendee will receive a delegate pack including a copy of Nic Seal’s book ‘Japanese Knotweed: Unearthing the Truth’ and access to a recording of the discussion to watch at their convenience.
Nic Seal said: “These webinars offer the opportunity for developers, construction professionals and advisors to gain an in-depth understanding of how to tackle invasive plants on site effectively and at the lowest cost, while meeting all their legal obligations to clients and future homebuyers. With legal claims relating to knotweed on the rise, and new guidance published by RICS earlier this year, anyone dealing with land remediation and residential development should understand the risks associated with Japanese knotweed and how best to mitigate them.”
To sign up for a fee of £49 plus VAT, visit the Environet UK website here.
Your email has been successfully added to newsletter list.