Environmental Site Assessments

Assessing the environmental, health and safety issues associated with a site or business, including phase 1 and phase 2 assessments

Services Case studies Insights Team Contact us

Understanding your site

Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs) play a pivotal role in understanding and managing environmental, health, and safety considerations associated with sites or businesses.

Whether driven by real estate transactions, insurance arrangements, permits, or internal risk management, a comprehensive ESA is crucial. At Anthesis, we recognise the diverse needs for assessments and offer tailored solutions to provide clients with valuable insights and a foundation for sustainable practices.

The Anthesis advantage

Partnering with Anthesis ensures a holistic approach to environmental management. Our commitment to excellence, global experience, and sector-specific expertise make us the preferred choice for clients seeking comprehensive and reliable environmental solutions.

With a focus on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) commitments, we go beyond traditional assessments to include climate change and sustainability considerations, aligning with evolving industry standards.

Site Assessment Solutions

Identifying and quantifying environmental, health and safety issues at particular sites has traditionally been achieved by undertaking Phase I Environmental Assessments (“Environmental Audits”). If required, Phase II Environmental Assessments can also be completed.

Phase I Environmental Assessments (ESAs) include a desk study element. This comprises a review of pertinent historical maps, aerial photographs and records, as well as current regulatory information. Where appropriate, a site visit may also be carried out to gain a first-hand understanding of its operations and condition. In some cases, Phase I Assessments uncover actual or potential contamination of soil or groundwater, and/or development planning or regulatory processes require a baseline on current site conditions. Anthesis can clarify the nature and extent of that contamination risk by undertaking a Phase II Environmental Assessment.

Our approach to Environmental Site Assessments

Phase 1 ESA – We provide an initial understanding of contamination risks, identify hazardous materials, and evaluate flood risks alongside compliance assessments to ensure thorough environmental due diligence.

Phase 2 ESA – We conduct intrusive investigations for soil and groundwater contamination, including physical sampling, chemical testing, and quantitative risk assessments to clarify potential risks.

ESG-Integrated Assessments – We include climate change and sustainability factors in our assessments, providing comprehensive evaluations aligned with ESG commitments.

Global Expertise – We deliver assessments consistently worldwide, leveraging sector-specific expertise across diverse industries and adhering to international standards like ASTM E1527.

Case Studies

case study

Conducting Portfolio Due Diligence Study for Leading Fund Manager

A leading fund manager focused on renewable energy, energy transition and sustainable infrastructure saw an opportunity

case study

Conducting an Environmental Site Assessment for AMRO Partners

See how Amro Partners conducted an Environmental Site Assessment—identifying risks and ensuring compliant, sustainable project development.

1 2

I have worked with Anthesis for many years. They have a depth of ESG understanding and expertise, allowing real analysis and advice on the emerging issues that are becoming increasingly material to our clients. What sets them apart is their willingness and ability to apply this, together with technology solutions, to enhance the quality and speed of their reporting.

Paul Davies – Latham & Watkins

We wanted the ESG screen as we were keen to understand the definition of ESG and to see the criteria you would be using. We were also interested to see how others would view us through this lens. The Anthesis screen provided us a with a “mirror”. The value to Neste was that it confirmed we are on a right track to addressing ESG issues. It also helped us to identify some potential improvement opportunities, several of which we are working on, and others that warrant further evaluation.

Neste

Case Study

Conducting Environmental Due Diligence for a Private Equity Firm

Frequently Asked Questions

An Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) is a process used to evaluate the environmental conditions of a site, identifying potential or existing contamination from current or historical land use. ESAs are commonly required for real estate transactions, M&A due diligence, regulatory permitting and internal risk management.

A Phase 1 ESA is a non-intrusive desk-based review of historical records, maps and site conditions to identify recognised environmental conditions (RECs). A Phase 2 ESA involves physical investigation — including soil and groundwater sampling and chemical testing — to confirm and quantify contamination identified in Phase 1.

ESAs are typically required during commercial real estate transactions, corporate mergers and acquisitions, project financing and lending, planning and permitting applications, and as part of ESG due diligence for investors and fund managers.

A Phase 1 ESA typically includes: a desk-based study reviewing historical maps, aerial photographs, and environmental records; a review of current regulatory databases for known contamination or enforcement notices; a site walkover to observe current conditions, land use, and any visible signs of contamination; interviews with site owners or occupants where appropriate; and a written report identifying any Recognised Environmental Conditions (RECs) and recommendations for further investigation. At Anthesis, Phase 1 assessments also incorporate flood risk, hazardous materials screening and ESG considerations.

A Phase 2 ESA is required when a Phase 1 assessment identifies actual or potential contamination that needs further investigation, or when a baseline of site conditions is needed for planning or regulatory purposes. It is commonly triggered during property transactions where a lender or purchaser requires confirmation of contamination risk, brownfield redevelopment projects, planning applications on potentially contaminated land, and corporate acquisitions involving industrial or historically sensitive sites. The Phase 2 involves intrusive investigation including soil and groundwater sampling, chemical analysis and quantitative risk assessment.

Anthesis conducts ESAs in accordance with internationally recognised standards including ASTM E1527 in North America and equivalent national standards in the UK and Europe. Our assessments also incorporate ESG and climate risk factors aligned with evolving industry and regulatory requirements.