Cognition has undertaken the task of decommissioning a former RAF refuelling depot in Chichester. The 5-hectare site will be redeveloped for commercial use The fuel depot contained four 700,000 litre partially buried fuel tanks. Due to the unusual construction of the tanks Cognition assisted the team from Development Archaeology record the historic site prior to decommissioning.
Tanks were decommissioned and degassed with residual liquids treated through a 4-stage mobile water treatment plant. Tank supports were removed and steel walls in a bulkhead design were disassembled. Foundations were removed and excavations validated to demonstrate the soil was free from contamination. Recovered soil was backfilled within the tank voids and stabilised, the providing a substantial cost saving to the Client as this negated the need for soil disposal and subsequent import of engineered fill material.