Disposal of Topsoil

boots73 · 27-05-2010 12:49PM #1

I've been approached by a construction firm who are starting on a large PPP adjacent to land owned by my family, they are looking to dispose of topsoil from their site and have asked if we would be willing to have it dispersed over approximately 10 acres of our land which is currently leased for grazing. The reason they are asking us is to avoid having trucks driving through the town, they will be able to avoid travelling on the road.

I've request a detailed proposal in writing before I even consider this. Environmental testing will be carried out and the area will be levelled and reseeded and a landscape architect employed if we wish.

Can anyone tell me who I should consult with on this matter? Is it an engineer?

Has anyone done something similar and would you let me know what questions to ask and what to expect?

ei.sdraob · 27-05-2010 03:03PM

free soil? plus levelling and reseeding

go for it

MidlandsM · 27-05-2010 03:06PM

There's no such thing as a free lunch.

Lurching · 27-05-2010 03:10PM

Id be getting them to show you a design topo drawing prior to commencement, to ensure gradients aren't affected and you don't have ponding or flooding issues down the line.

Supertech · 27-05-2010 03:11PM

This might need planning permission also.

rayjdav · 27-05-2010 06:44PM

True Supertech but, if the circumstances allow, it "may" fall under:

Planning + Development Regulations 2001
Part 3; Exempted Development - Rural

Land Reclamation

CLASS 11

Development consisting of the carrying out, on land which is used only for the purpose of agriculture or forestry, of any of the following works—
(e) the improvement of hill grazing,
Naturally, the OP would have to satisfy himself that this is/could be the case with the LA and that all propper routes are used. If it is not, I would get them to confirm in writing that they will undertake all research and development costing, and confirm completion date. If possible, request that a bond is held by solicitor and if contract not satisfied, at least you have some compensatory recourse to hand.
As it is PPP development, this will have to be all above board and transparent.

boots73 · 27-05-2010 08:41PM

Thanks all for your replies, lots of good points. Although it is not an area that floods, drainage would be an issue so will definately ask for drawings re. gradients. I'll put all these points and a few others together before I meet with them.

Any further advice will be appreciated.

muffler · 28-05-2010 02:30AM

If it's good quality topsoil why not let them stock pile it on your land and then sell it. A handy little earner.

MidlandsM · 28-05-2010 09:54AM

muffler wrote: »

If it's good quality topsoil why not let them stock pile it on your land and then sell it. A handy little earner.

+1
yep, you can sell it in tonne bags on DoneDeal or the like. That would be my thinking too.

archtech · 28-05-2010 10:02AM

I would be very cautious about allowing a construction company dispose or stockpile large quantities of top soil on your land unless you have a waste permit to accept same, or the soil is coming from your own land. The main motive the construction company want to dump the soil on your land is to save themselves money, it costs between €80-90 a load to dispose within property with a waste permit around here, in addition to transport costs.

As far as I know construction companies are required to dispose of it within an area with a valid waste permit by law. You could be prosecuted and liable for the cost of removal from your site.

Speak to the environmental section of your local authority. The construction company will only tell you what they want you to hear.

gman2k · 28-05-2010 10:03AM

MidlandsM wrote: »

There's no such thing as a free lunch.

Yep, with topsoil a valuable commodity, it begs the asking why the contractor is not selling it themselves....

I worked on a job a few years ago in Kildare, which was across the road from a large Multinational factory site. They had previously let the contractor on the MN site to dispose of soil on their site as fill, and when we done out ground investigations it was full of junk, conc, barrels, steel, rubbish etc....

boots73 · 28-05-2010 11:15AM

The soil is from a field only used for cattle grazing up to now, no buildings were ever on it. Environmental testing will be carried out and all necessary permits will be issued. I will also be speaking to someone from Teagasc. I will get in contact with the Co. Co. also.

Thanks for suggestions about selling it on but thats definately not for me:).

imitation · 28-05-2010 11:20AM

I know of a neighbour who did this, I dont know of the legalities, but I heard and saw the logistics. There agreement was subsoil and topsoil over the top of it, which was good for the neighbour because some of there land was boggy so it allowed them to bring up of the level of a fair piece of land.

What you need to watch out for is the quality of stuff, the neighbour saw a fair few loads of soil with rubble go in, but as more subsoil and top soil went over it it worked out ok. Its bound to happen when your dealing with builders and material coming from a building site. The amount of traffic will most likely be heavy, expect your passages to be nigh on ruined, especially if the weather turns wet.

Bitten & Hisses · 28-05-2010 12:19PM

gman2k wrote: »

Yep, with topsoil a valuable commodity, it begs the asking why the contractor is not selling it themselves.....

Maybe the reduced transport cost outweighs the current market value of topsoil, not to mention the hassle of selling small lots. Plus, this way, they can also shift subsoil, which would otherwise be a pain the proverbials.

Lurching · 28-05-2010 12:59PM

Bitten & Hisses wrote: »

Maybe the reduced transport cost outweighs the current market value of topsoil, not to mention the hassle of selling small lots. Plus, this way, they can also shift subsoil, which would otherwise be a pain the proverbials.

Topsoil would always be separated from subsoil during construction anyway.

There may be a legal requirement towards planning due to it being disposal of material, but thats a fairly grey area. Ive seen it done many times before without so much as a thought for the council, and seeing as its only a skim over the top, once it greens over, nobody will ever know the difference.

Tefral · 28-05-2010 01:09PM

Topsoil costs €6/m3 to dispose based on current Bills of Quantities ive seen.

Firstly, get something in writing to say the soil is not contaminated.

Then get something in writing that the contractor will undertake to level, grade and reseed grass.

Is the entrance to the land solid and has no drains in it? As the weight of these trucks will destroy the entrance and any drains that are underneath unless they are well covered.

To avoid an eyesore, i would suggest that the contractor undertakes one day a week to level the topsoil that has been placed there that week. Also, has the contractor indicated how much will actually go in? You be very surpised how much soil comes off road construction, also roads are built (usually m7 excluded ha ha) on solid substrate, this means that road/rubble will most likely come out, get the contractor to put this underneath and then cover with good soil.

Also, surely there should be some compensation for the loss of money for the grazing?

murraymarmalade · 28-05-2010 01:25PM

Speaking as someone who has loaded wagons and dumptrucks for a living,
i have seen this type of job countless times.

Be very,very carefull here,if the soil was top quality,he would have wagons queing up to pay him to take it away.chances are,if you do let him dump the soil on your land then you will have as much subsoil as you will have topsoil.

rhapsodyinblue · 06-08-2018 10:48AM

Re movement of topsoil: a family I am friends with live next to someone who brings in huge loads of topsoil and then over the months it's taken away again in smaller loads. The fact that this involves JCBs and heavy trucks is very annoying to them, also there was no mention of using his place as a business when he applied for planning permission for a dwelling house. They are not sure what to do as they don't want to have repercussions.

Disposal of Topsoil

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