CL:AIRE is a UK charity committed to providing a valuable service for all those involved in sustainable land reuse.
We develop training resources, disseminate information and act as a credible resource for all stakeholders, ensuring we remain at the cutting-edge of best practice and innovation.

 

Improving efficiency & raising standards
Improving efficiency & raising standards
Definition of Waste Code of Practice (DoWCoP), National Quality Mark Scheme for Land Affected by Contamination (NQMS), Asbestos in Soil, SuRF...
Supporting our Members
Supporting our Members
Find out about the benefits of becoming a CL:AIRE Principal or Supporter Member:- Member discounts, Networking, Working Groups, ...
Sharing Knowledge & Developing People
Sharing Knowledge & Developing People
Water and Land Library ( WALL), Continuing Professional development through Training and workshops...
CL:AIRE Membership
CL:AIRE works with its Members to raise awareness and pursue shared objectives in land, water and environmental management by collecting strategic industry information and developing industry initiatives that improve efficiency and save money.
Gas Protection Verification Scheme (GPVS)
The GPVS seeks to raise standards in membrane inspection, verification and reporting and provide confidence that risks associated with ground gases have been adequately managed.
Definition of Waste Code of Practice
The Definition of Waste Code of Practice (DoWCoP) provides a clear, consistent and efficient process which enables the reuse of excavated materials on-site or their movement between sites.

Find out more...Register of materials...
Make a declaration...
NQMS for Land Contamination Management
The National Quality Mark Scheme for Land Contamination Management (NQMS) is developed by the National Brownfield Forum to provide visible identification of documents that have been checked for quality.

Options Appraisal: Topics

Overview

This page gives you access to all the training content on this subject. Below are links to pages which provide important information such as the course structure and objectives. The syllabus provides a list of contents for each module. The forum has been created for you to ask questions about or provide feedback on, the technical content of the subject. It is recommended you read all this information before proceeding with module one. There are four modules to complete.

To access the modules scroll down to the four module toggle bars and click on the down arrow on the left. This will expand the toggle displaying the contents of the module.

Once you have completed an activity, click on the dotted tick to the right of the activity link. This informs the website that you have completed the required training and therefore will allow you to move onto the next step.

Each subject has two short assessments, the first after the reading list in module one and the second at the end of module four. Once you have completed all the activities and passed both assessments, you will be able to download your personalised PDF certificate and move onto the next subject.

Introduction to Options Appraisal

The Introduction to Options Appraisal topic requires that you read the "recommended" literature on the Reading List below.

Once you have completed the recommended reading, click on the dotted tick to the right of the Reading List item below to indicate that you have completed this activity.

After you have done this, the link to the assessment will become blue which highlights that you are able to take the test.

You cannot move onto the next module until you have passed this assessment. There are 10 questions and the pass mark is 80%. You will be informed immediately at the end of the assessment whether you have passed or failed.

Overview of Remediation Technologies

This module consists of a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation with narration converted to streaming video format. The video is hosted on YouTube and has been embedded here. A good broadband internet connection is required in order to stream the video.

In addition to the video, a PDF of all the slides is available to print.

Once the video has been streamed, select the dotted tick icon to the right of the activity link to indicate that the activity has been completed. The next module will now become available.

Please note these modules were created in 2011, therefore there are references to regulations & regulatory drivers that are now no longer current. Also with the significant changes within government websites, some of the links may no longer be correct. However the technical content and concepts are still factually correct.

Key Features in Options Appraisal

This module consists of a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation with narration converted to streaming video format. The video is hosted on YouTube and has been embedded here. A good broadband internet connection is required in order to stream the video.

In addition to the video, a PDF of all the slides is available to print.

Once the video has been streamed, select the dotted tick icon to the right of the activity link to indicate that the activity has been completed. The next module will now become available.

How to Conduct an Options Appraisal

This module consists of a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation with narration converted to streaming video format. The video is hosted on YouTube and has been embedded here. A good broadband internet connection is required in order to stream the video.

In addition to the video, a PDF of all the slides is available to print.

Once the video has been streamed, click on the dotted tick to the right of the video item to indicate that you have completed this activity. After you have done this, the link to the assessment will become blue which highlights that you are able to take the test.

You cannot move onto the next subject until you have passed this assessment. There are 10 questions and the pass mark is 80%. You will be informed immediately at the end of the assessment whether you have passed or failed.

Once you have completed all the activities and passed both assessments, the link to download your certificate will become blue which highlights that you are able to download the personalised PDF and move onto the next subject.

  1. Land Remediation Pathfinder Scheme - expressions of interest closing soon

    Land Remediation Pathfinder Scheme - expressions of interest closing soon

     April 2026
    Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced an Expression of Interest opportunity for the Land Remediation Pathfinder Scheme (LRPS). LRPS is a £80 million pilot scheme funded by Defra...
  2. Publication of MCERTS performance standard for rapid measurement techniques for the chemical testing of soil

    Publication of MCERTS performance standard for rapid measurement techniques for the chemical testing of soil

     April 2026
    On 27 April, the Environment Agency published new guidance called MCERTS: performance standard for rapid measurement techniques for the chemical testing of soil. The guidance describes the certification process for rapid...
  3. The Environmental Monitoring & Measurement Achievement Awards (the EMMAs) - call for nominations from land remediation industry

    The Environmental Monitoring & Measurement Achievement Awards (the EMMAs) - call for nominations from land remediation industry

     April 2026
    The Environmental Monitoring & Measurement Achievement Awards (the EMMAs) will return to Birmingham this year with an expanded scope, recognising excellence within the geoenvironmental and land remediation sector for the...
  4. New CL:AIRE Research Bulletin (RB22) published on legacy wastes in the coastal zone

    New CL:AIRE Research Bulletin (RB22) published on legacy wastes in the coastal zone

     April 2026
    CL:AIRE is pleased to publish a new research bulletin RB22: Legacy Wastes in the Coastal Zone which is available to download here. Legacy Wastes in the Coastal Zone: Environmental Risks and Management...
  5. EPA Ireland consults on developing national guidance for brownfield soil and stone by-product material

     April 2026
    The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Ireland has published a position paper for consultation as part of the development of national guidance for brownfield soil and stone by-product material. The guidance...
  6. UK Parliament's Environmental Audit Committee publishes its PFAS report

    UK Parliament's Environmental Audit Committee publishes its PFAS report

     April 2026
    The UK Parliament Environmental Audit Committee has now published its report Addressing the risks from Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) following its inquiry and call for evidence in April 2025.
  7. National Brownfield Forum March 2026 meeting notes now published

    National Brownfield Forum March 2026 meeting notes now published

     April 2026
    The National Brownfield Forum March 2026 meeting notes have now been published and are available to download here.
  8. Defra consults on BNG and targeted exemptions for brownfield residential developments

    Defra consults on BNG and targeted exemptions for brownfield residential developments

     April 2026
    Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) is consulting on a possible exemption from biodiversity net gain (BNG) for certain residential developments on brownfield land. Further information is available here.
  9. HSE launches consultation on Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR)

    HSE launches consultation on Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR)

     April 2026
    The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has launched a consultation on the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR) and it is now open for comments. The consultation seeks...
  10. Phase 2 of DoE Industry Profiles project is now complete

    Phase 2 of DoE Industry Profiles project is now complete

     March 2026
    A project to update 15 of the Department of Environment (DoE) series of 47 industry profiles has now finished with funding from the Environment Agency, Association of Geotechnical & Geoenvironmental...
  11. Defra publishes Land Use Framework for England

    Defra publishes Land Use Framework for England

     March 2026
    Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has published the Land Use Framework for England. It sets out how England can use its land more effectively. The Framework has...
  12. CL:AIRE connects the industry: Bristol networking evening sets the scene for summer event

     March 2026
    CL:AIRE hosted another successful members' networking event, this time in Bristol at Racks Bar and Kitchen. The evening brought together professionals from across the sector for relaxed, informal conversation. CL:AIRE Members...
  13. Environment Agency publishes national groundwater nitrogen inventory for England

    Environment Agency publishes national groundwater nitrogen inventory for England

     March 2026
    The Environment Agency Chief Scientist's Group has published outputs from a research project: National groundwater nitrogen inventory for England (SC210008). The project developed and tested new approaches to assess national-scale...
  14. Defra consults on amendments to the POPs regulation 2026

    Defra consults on amendments to the POPs regulation 2026

     March 2026
    Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) is seeking views on proposed changes to the Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Regulation, including drafted legislation to prohibit five new POPs to...
  15. RBKC Lead Modelling Tool published on WALL

    RBKC Lead Modelling Tool published on WALL

     March 2026
    The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) Lead (Pb) values and modelling tool has been made available for all to use on the CL:AIRE Water and Land Library (WALL).
  16. BSI publishes document on ecological soil functions

    BSI publishes document on ecological soil functions

     March 2026
    British Standards Institution (BSI) has recently published PD ISO/TS 18721:2026 Ecological soil functions - Characteristics, indicators and methods. Further information and purchase options available here.
  17. SoBRA publishes two new NAPL guidance documents

    SoBRA publishes two new NAPL guidance documents

     March 2026
    The Society of Brownfield Risk Assessment (SoBRA) has published two new documents from the Non Aqueous Phase Liquid (NAPL) Subgroup. NAPL Document 6 - Advice Towards Understanding the Potential for LNAPL...
  18. Assessing risks to controlled waters in relation to climate change: SoBRA publishes updated guidance

    Assessing risks to controlled waters in relation to climate change: SoBRA publishes updated guidance

     March 2026
    The Society of Brownfield Risk Assessment (SoBRA) has updated its 2022 document, Guidance on assessing risk to controlled waters from land contamination under conditions of future climate change, to align...
  19. GWSDAT v.3.3 released

    GWSDAT v.3.3 released

     March 2026
    The GroundWater Spatiotemporal Data Analysis Tool (GWSDAT) has been updated and v3.3 has been released. GWSDAT is an open source, user friendly software application for the visualisation and interpretation of...
  20. JRC supports recently published European soil monitoring law

    JRC supports recently published European soil monitoring law

     March 2026
    The Joint Research Centre (JRC) is the science and knowledge service of the European Commission. The JRC has recently published a report on existing international and European standards relating...
  21. BSI publishes draft standard on ecological risk assessment of soil contamination (TRIAD approach) for comment

    BSI publishes draft standard on ecological risk assessment of soil contamination (TRIAD approach) for comment

     February 2026
    British Standards Institution (BSI) has published the draft International Standard Procedure for site-specific ecological risk assessment of soil contamination (soil quality TRIAD approach). Comments on the draft should be submitted...