Soil Resource Assessment and Management

Understand, protect and manage soil resources throughout your project 

LDC provides Soil Resource Assessments and practical Soil Management Plans for development, infrastructure, renewable energy, minerals, environmental and land-restoration projects across the UK. 

We identify the soils present, explain their characteristics and constraints, and set out how they should be stripped, handled, stored, reused and reinstated during construction and restoration. 

Our expert team of surveyors and consultants specialise in providing practical, real world guidance on the management of soils based on years of experience in the field.

Detailed soil surveys 

Construction and restoration support 

Planning-ready reporting 

Practical handling guidance 

Discuss your project with LDC

Primary benefits

Reliable Soil Baseline 

Understand the types, distribution, depth and condition of soil resources across the site.

Protected Soil Resources 

Reduce avoidable mixing, compaction, structural damage and loss of reusable soil. 

Practical Site Instructions 

Translate technical soil evidence into clear procedures for contractors and project managers. 

Better Reinstatement 

Plan soil reuse, restoration and aftercare to support long-term land performance.

Service Overview

A Soil Resource Assessment identifies and describes the soil resources present on a site. It provides the baseline information needed to plan how soils will be protected, stripped, stored, moved, reused and reinstated. 

A Soil Management Plan turns that baseline into practical project instructions. Bringing the two services together creates a clear route from survey and assessment through construction, restoration and aftercare.

Soil Resource Assessment

Survey, describe and map soil resources, characteristics, sensitivities and opportunities for environmental schemes. 

Soil Management Plans

Define practical methods and controls for soil stripping, handling, storage, reuse and reinstatement. 

Construction and Restoration Support 

Provide practical, real-world soil-management advice, monitoring and review during earthworks, reinstatement and aftercare where required. 

What a Soil Resource Assessment can cover 

  • Soil types, profiles and distribution 
  • Topsoil and subsoil depths 
  • Texture, structure and drainage characteristics 
  • Soil condition and handling sensitivity 
  • Available soil volumes and reuse opportunities 
  • Areas requiring different stripping or storage methods 
  • Baseline mapping and technical reporting 
  • Implications for construction, restoration and long-term land use 

What a Soil Management Plan can include

  • Soil stripping methods and sequencing 
  • Separate handling of different soil resources 
  • Stockpile location, construction and management 
  • Restrictions during wet or unsuitable conditions 
  • Vehicle movement and trafficking controls 
  • Measures to reduce compaction and soil mixing 
  • Soil reuse and reinstatement methods 
  • Drainage, cultivation and aftercare requirements 
  • Clear responsibilities and contractor guidance 

Our project process

Assess

Review the proposal and establish the soil information needed.

Survey

Examine, describe and map soil resources across the site. 

Plan

Set practical methods for stripping, storage, handling, reuse and reinstatement.

Support

Help project teams apply the plan during construction, restoration and aftercare.

Why choose LDC?

Our specialists investigate how water moves through a site, record existing drainage assets and constraints, diagnose problems and provide clear advice for maintenance, repair, alteration or new works.

Field-based soil expertise

Advice founded on site investigation and practical understanding of soil behaviour.

Integrated land knowledge

Soils considered alongside drainage, agriculture, earthworks and restoration.

Usable project documents

Plans written to guide delivery as well as satisfy planning requirements.

Lifecycle support

Input available from early appraisal through construction, reinstatement and aftercare.

Amy Sales

BSc (Hons), MSc, FACTS

Associate Director – Soils

Specialist soil expertise throughout your project

Amy is one of the qualified professionals supporting LDC’s Soil Resource Assessment and Management services. Her experience in soil management helps ensure that soil resources are properly identified, assessed and managed from initial survey through construction, reinstatement and aftercare.

LDC’s soil specialists combine relevant professional qualifications with practical experience of soil handling, protection, reuse and restoration across a wide range of development and infrastructure projects. Meet our Soil Resource Assessment and Management team and discover the expertise available to support your project.

meet the team

Frequently asked questions

It identifies and describes the soil resources on a site and provides the baseline needed to plan their protection, handling, reuse and reinstatement.

The assessment establishes what soil resources exist; the management plan explains how those specific resources should be handled and reused.

It sets out the practical methods and controls used to protect and manage soils during construction, restoration or reinstatement.

Subject to the agreed scope, LDC can provide briefings, monitoring, practical advice and review of soil-handling and reinstatement activities.

They may be required where a project involves soil stripping, earthworks, stockpiling, construction access, restoration, temporary land use or agricultural reinstatement.

Yes. The assessment and management plan can provide technical evidence for planning, EIA, discharge of conditions and project documentation.