In 2005, NHBC introduced Land Quality Service to support the house-building industry by de-risking land intended for residential development.
We spoke with Karen Thornton, NHBC’s Land Quality Service Manager since November 2021, to find out more about how this team of specialists support builders and developers across the country.
What is Land Quality Service?
Land Quality Service (LQS) offers three key benefits to those looking to remove uncertainty over whether a site is suitable for future housing development:
- reducing risk – you can be assured that the team has thoroughly reviewed the investigation, ground remediation proposals and verification works
- adding value – land that is already de-risked has increased value, offering a greater return on investment
- and access to experienced industry specialists – our team can tailor and independently review proposals at any stage.
The LQS team is available to support house builders (whether registered with NHBC or not), strategic land developers, local authorities, development agencies, land agents and anyone looking for specialist land quality advice on overcoming land-related issues.
In addition to providing informed views on the acceptability of foundation solutions, they can outline remediation expectations for any outstanding technical matters that should be resolved before or during development.
The team can thoroughly assess all types of land at the pre-development stage, whether it is a brownfield site, geotechnically challenging land, greenfield, or marginal site.
Engaging with experts
The LQS team consists of eight chartered engineers: three geotechnical specialists, four geo-environmental specialists and a Technical Manager. They have worked on some of the largest regeneration schemes in the UK and share around 200 years of experience between them.
By engaging with LQS to deliver data-led risk management at the pre-development stage you can increase and retain land value, offering a greater return on investment and save time and money by potentially designing out or solving problems before they occur.
As Karen Thornton, NHBC’s Land Quality Service Manager, explains “The LQS team delve into the details of a project to highlight any possible problems. They also work in partnership with our customers to ensure workable solutions, including opinion on whether foundation systems or remediation solutions are acceptable. They will detail any outstanding technical matters that need to be resolved to achieve acceptance before or during development.”
Getting it right
Getting things right the first time, ideally before construction starts, can not only prevent issues later but increases customer satisfaction and helps to raise overall quality standards. That is why engaging with the LQS team can add value throughout the build process.
Land with an NHBC Land Quality Service Certificate gives confidence in the site prior to NHBC registration. It offers assurance that the LQS team has thoroughly reviewed the investigation, land remediation work proposals and verification work for compliance with NHBC Land Quality Standards.
How does Land Quality Service support warranties?
The LQS team provides specialist opinion on land suitability and remediation, ensuring confidence in sites before registration for warranty and supporting compliance with planning conditions.
Karen Thornton, NHBC’s Land Quality Service Manager, added “The service can significantly reduce any risk of delays at the development stage. It can also help to limit the possibility of problems being discovered much later and prevent expensive remedial work.”
