knotweed advice for commercial & construction
When looking for corporate knotweed eradication services you’ll want to know what professional contractors provide. You may also want to know how professionals get rid of Japanese knotweed? Here we provide a checklist to help you choose.
Reliable knotweed removal services for corporate clients must hold industry trade affiliations and memberships such as PCA, BASIS and SSIP accreditations. If handling knotweed they need to have a waste carrier’s license. Next look at their services. A registered contractor will need carry out a full site assessment (survey), provide a report (often called a Knotweed Management Plan – or KMP) that contains recommendations for control or removal options, and a comprehensive quote for the works to be carried out. This should include evidence that the contractor is licensed to handle and remove knotweed waste and that it will be disposed of at a licensed site.
What you should expect from a reputable contractor
Not all knotweed specialists match the criteria you need as a commercial business or construction firm in order to comply with knotweed legislation and health and safety regulations. We’ve put together this overview of recommendations – this is the information and advice you should expect to receive:
- How, when and where knotweed established itself on the subject property.
- What remediation methods are available – with demonstrable evidence of projects using each method. Ask for some project examples or case studies.
- What method(s) they would recommend and details of how it would be carried out including excavation depth required.
- How they would undertake the works, details on access requirements, plant required and any health and safety considerations.
- How to contain any offsite knotweed to stop it laterally spreading back on to the site.
- What guarantees they will supply.
- What biosecurity measures will be put in place.
- Call off time/availability.
- Duration of works.
- Legislation.
- Any other works such as vegetation that requires removal, tree works, access haul roads and loading areas.
This is a comprehensive list and you should expect all of the above to be covered as this will enable you to make a fully informed decision about which contractor is right for the project. Whilst your budget is a significant factor, it’s not always about cost and a reputable and experienced contractor will work with you to establish a proposal that meets your needs.
How do they get rid of knotweed?
Getting back on topic – this really depends on the site itself, the development plans and any other environmental or public considerations required. You can find all the answers on the following pages:
Ask the experts
The list above comes from our experience in working with and listening to commercial and constructions clients across the UK, but if you have more questions about getting rid of Japanese knotweed or other invasive plants you can speak to one of the excavation team who will be happy to help.