Unit 103 - Lesson 2

Unit 103 - The Built Environment Life Cycle

​The environmental impact of construction.

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Pollution in Construction

​When land is used for construction, there is less land available for agricultural and recreational purposes, resulting in permanent changes to the landscape.

When designing and planning a construction project, the impact on nature, wildlife and the wider human community must be carefully considered.

During the construction process, care must be taken to reduce any pollutants contaminating the surrounding area. The main sources of pollution from a building site include: spillages of chemicals used, contaminated water running off-site into water sources, dust and other airborne particles, fumes from construction machines and fires.​

​The environmental impact of construction

​Here’s an example where sites over the years have allowed Phosphate from building products to access the water ways.

To mitigate against these, it is important that each company has a set of precautionary and preventive measures in place.

​Pollution generated through construction

Multiple Choice

What is the most used building product?

• Steel
• Concrete
• Glass
• Wood

Multiple Choice

What % of Britain's carbon output is from the production of concrete?

• 1%

• 8%

• 15%

• 50%

As a material that creates the majority of the world’s bridges, roads, dams, and construction, concrete releases an extreme amount CO2 each year. It’s the highest consumed product on earth besides water. Until the overall emissions are cut worldwide, the environment will continue to be polluted with over 4 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide annually due to this industry.

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Cement and Concrete: The Environmental Impact

Open Ended

Research what type of pollution can be generated through construction and what precautionary measures can be but into place.

Environmental impact of construction activities

Environmental Impact

​Land Use

• Increased pressure on transport networks and infrastructure

• Natural drainage interruption

• Increased flooding risk

• Extraction of minerals for building materials, scarring the landscape and destroying habitats

Environmental Impact

​Pollution

• Contamination - Air, Land and Water Sources

Environmental Impact

​Hazardous Substances

• Human Health

• Wildlife

• Agriculture

Environmental Impact

​Waste

• Energy required to transport waste during disposal

• Energy required to process waste

• Energy required to recycle waste

Activity

​Looking back at the previous slides.

For each point can you think of a way of minimising the impact to the environment.
Land Use, Pollution, Hazardous Substances, Waste

​Polluter Pays Policy

​ The Environmental Damage (Prevention and Remediation) Regulations 2009 manages and enforces the ‘polluter pays’ policy within Wales.​ 

 

The principles behind this regulation is to ensure that those that produce pollution should bear the costs of managing it to prevent damage to the environment or to human health; it covers any pollutants that are released into the air, water or on land.​ 

 

​By carefully planning (houses designed to be raised on stilts or elevated plots) and through water management, Flood plains can still be built on if water holding ponds etc. Are incorporated into the design.

​Ecological Considerations

​Any new development or adaptation to existing property has the potential to impact on the environment in a variety of ways. 

​Flood Plains: building on flood plains has a knock-on effect of either flooding the properties situated there or having run-off water diverted into watercourses causing flooding and erosion downstream.

​Conservation of Ecosystems

​Legislation is in place to protect the natural environment from development.​ 

 

• Areas containing rare and endangered species of fauna and flora are exempt from development. Any breaches will result in prosecution. 

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• Trees, shrubs and hedgerows are not allowed to be removed during the breeding season as nesting birds will be disturbed. Roosting, feeding and migration routes are also protected.​ 

 

• Land that might have any protected species living on it must be surveyed before any groundwork commences, and precautions implemented so as not to disturb them.   

 

Open Ended

List as many British protected species as you can:

​Protected Species

​Mammals: bats, badgers, water voles and dormice.​

 

Reptiles: smooth snake, grass snake, adder, common lizard, sand lizard and slowworm.​

 

Amphibians: great crested newt and ​pond frog.​

 

Birds: most species

Plants: Snowden Lily, Black Mountain hawkweed,​

Riddelsdell’s hawkweed.