Landmark helps consultants to map missing history

26 February 2008, 7:11pm

A unique set of maps has been launched today to fill the gaps that exist between layers of Ordnance Survey historical mapping, enabling environmental consultants to make site assessments with a greater degree of accuracy.

Available for the first time in digital format from Landmark Information Group, Historical Building Plans are a unique set of colour plans of 54 UK towns and cities dating from 1886 – 1970. Produced by Charles Goad originally for fire insurance purposes, the scale and the detail of the information captured means that not only can a building’s previous occupants and past land use be identified, but also details of what a building is made from and inclusion of any industrial equipment (heaters, tanks, engines, asbestos etc).

As such detail is not currently provided in other existing historical maps, the digitalisation of these plans will make the identification of potentially contaminative features far easier and provide consultants with a much more accurate picture of land use. (See case study below)

“The launch of the Historical Building Plans comes at a time when both consultants and clients are under pressure to ensure thorough environmental due diligence is undertaken on all property transactions” according to Stephen Stout, Group Managing Director of Landmark Information Group.

“Clients are now very much aware of the cost and reputational risk associated with contaminated land. This increase in awareness, along with the impact of EU legislation, is driving up standards – putting a premium on the availability of robust desk study reports.”

The Historical Building Plans are the latest addition to Landmark’s existing historical mapping archive, the largest archive of its kind with over one million digital map tiles. This archive provides consultants with access to the industry’s most comprehensive historical land use information to assist them in managing risk and opportunity decision making.

Historic Building Plans are available from £20 via the Envirocheck website www.envirocheck.co.uk. For further information on Landmark’s historical map archive and other land and property search information, please call 0844 844 9952 or visit www.envirocheck.co.uk

Historical Building Plans Case Study – Exeter

Location: Exeter

Graphics Provided:

1) Exeter Historical Map 1905
2) Exeter Historical Building Plans1902

The historical map and historical building plans of Exeter represent exactly the same area. On the historical map, it is clear that there is very little detail provided about the buildings. However, on the historical building plans, the details of the buildings are very clearly listed. For example, the historical building plans show agricultural implements, cake and manure warehouse and a tree mill, the latter of which are potentially contaminative sources which could not have been picked up by the historical map alone.

Issued on behalf of Landmark Information Group by Trimedia.