Risk assessment and management in brownfield sites

This chapter presents a structured framework for risk assessment and management in brownfield redevelopment, positioning it as the analytical foundation for safe and sustainable land reuse. It introduces the pollutant linkage model centred on the source-pathway-receptor (SPR) triad as the conceptual basis for identifying and evaluating contamination risk, explaining how each element interacts and how breaking any single link can mitigate unacceptable outcomes. The chapter then details the tiered risk assessment process, progressing from Preliminary Risk Assessment (PRA) through Generic Quantitative Risk Assessment (GQRA) to Detailed Quantitative Risk Assessment (DQRA), demonstrating how each stage refines understanding proportionate to the level of risk and uncertainty. Particular attention is given to the Conceptual Site Model (CSM), examined as a dynamic, iteratively updated tool that integrates multi-disciplinary site data, structures professional decision-making, and serves as a communication bridge between technical practitioners, regulators, developers, and communities. The chapter highlights the importance of moving beyond prescriptive, deterministic approaches towards flexible, site-specific, risk-based methods that align remediation with intended land use, project feasibility, and stakeholder engagement.