THE FACTS ABOUT KNOTWEED
Knotweed removal for construction, developers and commercial businesses
If you’re in the construction industry, or a UK house builder, or a commercial business you could have an invasive plant growing on your land without knowing it.
Japanese knotweed knows no boundaries, it will establish itself pretty much anywhere (we’ve even found it growing through cracks in concrete, and through underground pipes). Knotweed will expand its network of underground roots on land that is being disturbed so these industries will undoubtedly be at risk of unleashing knotweed growth which will cause major problems for the site and (for development) its planned use.
We’ve treated many knotweed infestations on new build sites, from rhizome material left (or ignored) in the land prior to site development. A pre-planning survey would have picked this up so it could have been dealt with before works commence to ensure the developer has peace of mind during and after the build.
How do you get rid of commercial Japanese knotweed?
The compliant way to get rid of knotweed on a commercial site is undoubtedly to use an experienced, qualified and fully licensed contractor, one that has options for knotweed removal to suit all types of sites. With increasing environmental consciousness in the commercial sectors we have developed systems that are more sustainable options such as vacuum extraction. And by soil sorting we can reduce the volume of waste taken to landfill – reducing our carbon footprint.
But not all knotweed needs to be removed from site, we can in some circumstances leave it buried onsite, and we’ll speak to you about these options to see if they are viable for the project outcome and the longer term. Treatment programmes on commercial sites typically come with an insurance backed guarantee, and we’ll monitor the site for the period of the guarantee – usually 12 years.
What does it cost to get rid of knotweed?
Commercial excavations will typically cost from £4,000 up to £150,000 depending on the work in hand. Occasionally we complete some large contracts including a single excavation project on HS2 completed for just under £1.5 million. We utilised a methodology which reportedly saved the client an estimated £1.8m in comparison to more traditional remediation approaches (assessment made by project consultant AECOM).
Who is responsible for removing Japanese knotweed?
It’s the landowner’s responsibility to control or get rid of knotweed. So whether you’ve purchased a plot for development, or you’re redeveloping your land, you are liable for any knotweed growth. That being said it is not illegal to grow knotweed, but it can create legal issues (and potentially fines) if you do not have it under control, or can provide evidence that it has been removed from your land.
Do you need planning permission to remove Japanese knotweed?
If you’re considering having any work to your property that requires planning permission you should first find out if there is Japanese knotweed on the land. This can be done by having a professional survey and if knotweed is confirmed, a treatment programme to control the knotweed should be included as part of the planning application.
Do you need a license to remove Japanese knotweed?
Yes, you do. Government legislation deems Japanese knotweed as ‘controlled waste’ which as such is required to be disposed of by a contractor holding a current waste carrier’s license to a landfill site also licensed to receive such waste material and soils.
For more information on any of the above, or if you’re considering purchasing land for development and would like a pre-purchase survey get in touch: