The successful trading, development and regeneration of brownfield sites requires stakeholders to acknowledge and manage environmental risks effectively to realise
the potential returns. Whilst many risks associated with the project require careful consideration, the management of environmental risks can have a profound effect on the success, or failure, of a development project. Get it “right” and the developer and investment partners can reap immense rewards. Get it “wrong” and environmental issues have the potential not only to jeopardise any financial gain on the project, but present long-term liabilities to those involved.

Of course, developers cannot simply adopt a “zero risk” attitude to environmental issues when it comes to brownfield sites, particularly given the current climate of increasing costs of landfilling. Avoiding sites with actual or perceived environmental
risks could result in missed opportunities as a result of deciding not to proceed with a purchase, however budgeting for overly stringent remedial standards during development can risk losing a site to a less conservative competitor. It is not only major regeneration schemes that require careful assessment. Arguably, the adoption of adequate risk management procedures is even more important for small brownfield sites, where margins will tend to be tighter.

Residual Risk and Uncertainty
The drive towards the use of “innovative” remediation techniques, particularly those involving the in-situ treatment of soil or groundwater pollution, brings with
it the need to address residual contamination risks.

The application of risk-based remediation criteria, whilst an entirely credible and practical solution for modern day brownfield site regeneration, is designed to reduce risks to acceptable levels based on the current status of scientific knowledge, legislation, and (perhaps even more importantly) enforcement practice. Predicting future trends in any one of these factors is prone to significant uncertainties. One only has to look at the progress made (or lack of it) on Soil Guideline Values in recent years, and the Water Framework Directive to realise that this is an area ripe for changes in enforcement practice, raising the spectre of cases being re-opened some years after remedial works have been “signed off” by regulators.

Developers will, understandably, want to realise a profit on their investment as quickly as possible, and will therefore tend to have a relatively short-term interest in a site. Long-tail liabilities associated with residual contamination will therefore typically not be of primary concern. However, other stakeholders such as investors,
lenders and sellers (particularly if the latter are the original polluter) may seek additional safeguards to protect themselves in the event that environmental risks are not entirely addressed through remediation. In many cases, it may be merely the perception of environmental risk, rather than specific risk factors that cause concern.

Solutions
The increasing availability of fixed price remediation contracts may seem to be the perfect panacea for developers looking to avoid the risk of cost-overrun. But what happens if additional contamination is found that falls outside the scope of the contract, either during or after completion of the remedial works?

The first reaction may be to try to take action against the environmental consultant or contractor responsible for designing and implementing the remediation scheme. This is unlikely to be successful, unless either party has been clearly negligent, or the
engineered solution has failed within the warranty period. General liability and property insurance policies will almost certainly offer no protection from ongoing ground contamination liabilities. By contrast, environmental insurance can offer a
cost effective solution to residual contamination risks.

Environmental insurance policies cover statutory clean-up requirements, third party claims for bodily injury and property damage, and associated legal expenses, resulting from contamination. The environmental market has softened in recent years, largely through increased competition, resulting in premium levels being approximately half what they were three years ago for comparable risks. Price is not everything of course, but there is also greater potential to secure coverage enhancements now than in previous years.

Whilst policies can be placed quickly and efficiently, it is important to use a specialist broker who is familiar with insurance market, policy wording and to ensure that any policy placed is tailored to meet the specific needs of the Client and project.

Do Claims Succeed?
In short, yes. Environmental insurance is a relatively
young insurance market, nonetheless we are seeing a maturing claims experience in the UK and elsewhere. During a recent survey by Willis, environmental insurers
indicated that up to 1 in 10 policies see claims activity, a trend that most insurers agree is increasing, both in terms of the frequency and magnitude of loss.

Case Study 1
A car dealership relocated one of its showrooms, with the intention of selling the site for residential development. Following the discovery of a widespread plume of petrol contamination caused by a petrol filling station formerly located at the site, remedial plans were prepared in agreement with the regulators. The petrol plume affected an
underlying aquifer, and also extended beneath surrounding residential properties.

The risk assessment reduced the uncertainty to a level that the developer was willing to take on the risk of funding the remediation works, in return for a purchase price reduction. Although there was general confidence that the remedial works would be successful in reducing both the risk and uncertainty the developer was concerned that the residual risk exposure could be significant, particularly as they were required to indemnify the seller. The developer therefore purchased environmental insurance to safeguard against the possibility of future additional clean-up costs or third party
claims following completion of the remediation, for example as a result of “rebound” of the plume or future health impacts caused by inhalation of petrol vapours by residents.

Case Study 2
This illustrates a recent example where liabilities of residual contamination, the costs of which ran into six figures, were successfully claimed on an environmental insurance policy.

A landowner implemented remedial works following the discovery of hydrocarbon contamination beneath their site. The original polluter had ceased trading some years earlier, leaving the current owner liable for the remediation, which was planned and undertaken with the agreement of the regulators.  Upon commencement of the works, the landowner also took out an environmental insurance policy to cover
the possibility of additional future clean-up works being required as a result of unidentified contamination being present beneath the site. Due to site access constraints, it had not initially been possible to investigate in all areas.

The remediation achieved the required target, and was duly “signed off” by the regulators, upon which the environmental insurer was obliged to provide for any further “on-site” clean-up costs under the policy terms. Following this, additional
contamination was identified which required further remediation, the costs of which were met by the environmental insurance policy.

For more information or to discuss other environmental risk transfer solutions, please contact

Fiona Gray
Willis Environmental Practice
Tel: +44 (0)207 488 8111
grayf@willis.com

Ten Trinity Square
London EC3P 3AX
www.willis.com

Willis Limited, Registered number: 181116 England and Wales. Registered address: Ten Trinity Square, London EC3P 3AX. A Lloyd’s Broker. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.