Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) has announced the final round of Brownfield Land Release Fund 2 funding available to local authorities in England.  Local authorities will be able to bid for a share of £80 million.  The application window will be open until 14 February 2024 with successful projects expected to be announced in Summer 2024. The funding awarded to local authorities is used for land remediation and small-scale infrastructure work to make surplus local authority-owned brownfield sites ready for housing that would otherwise remain derelict.  Further information and how to apply is available.

The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee (EFRA) published the report to its inquiry into soil health on Tuesday 5 December 2023 – World Soil Day.

Chair of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, Sir Robert Goodwill, said "Problems of soil degradation, contamination and soil waste can be addressed through the use of sustainable soil management practices and now is the time for the government to lead on this."

You can read the full report here, or the summary report and all publications related to the EFRA inquiry here.

CL:AIRE was pleased to submit written evidence on sustainable soils' use to this inquiry.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs published the final part of the package of information concerning Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG).  This piece of guidance includes how it affects land managers, developers and local authorities. The guidance is available here.

BNG is a way of creating and improving natural habitats. Developers must deliver a BNG of 10%. This means a development will result in more or better quality habitat than there was before development.

CL:AIRE is delighted to be publishing its 2024 training course dates for its existing courses.  In addition, CL:AIRE is launching a new course "Practical aspects of ground gas, vapour and water monitoring & sampling".  This course is ideal for early careers practitioners including geo-environmental consultants, remediation contractors and regulators who have an introductory knowledge in the subject. Example equipment will be available on the day to view.  For further information about the different courses that CL:AIRE runs, please visit the training page of the website: CL:AIRE Training (claire.co.uk) To book on any of the courses please go to the shop and look for the specific course title icon: Book or buy (claire.co.uk)

The Gas Protection Verification Accreditation Scheme (GPVS) application window will be opening on 1 January 2024 and close 29 February 2024.  The application window will be open to Technician Grade and Specialist Grade applicants. All candidates will be required to complete an application form (which will be made live on 1 January 2024) and submit additional supporting information. Please ensure that you visit the application page of the GPVS website 0. Document Preparation (claire.co.uk) to understand what supporting information is required to be submitted.

CL:AIRE is pleased to be helping convene a session at next years European Geosciences Union (EGU) General Assembly. As such, an invitation for abstract submissions is extended for the session on 'Advancing understanding and management of urban soils for multifunctionality - connecting research and practice. This event is scheduled to take place in Vienna from April 14 to 19, 2024 and provides a platform for the exchange of cutting-edge research and innovations across various geoscience disciplines.

CL:AIRE is currently developing a number of technical publications related to soil remediation and management.  We are looking for assistance from our members and subscribers in providing recent, high-resolution photographs which align with the descriptions listed below by 31 January 2024. Your images will be considered for use in several upcoming CL:AIRE publications.