GroundSure, the UK’s leading environmental data intelligence provider for property professionals, has today launched the first commercially available desktop search report to identify the presence of Japanese Knotweed.
This highly invasive species, introduced by the Victorians as an ornamental plant, is now rampant across the UK. It is causing widespread damage to natural ecosystems and property, impacting asset values and affecting lending decisions and is costing £1.6 billion a year to eradicate*
The report identifies potential locations of knotweed clumps in excess of 5 square metres through an innovative remote sensing technique within a 50 metre radius around the boundary of a commercial property or site. An estimate of root systems is also provided, which can identify possible nuisance risks, either to or from neighbouring properties.
“Japanese Knotweed is bad news for commercial property owners, “said Dan Montagnani, Managing Director, GroundSure.
“Lenders are becoming ever more vigilant about its impact on asset values and lending security. The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has issued clear guidance on how valuations should account for this. Commercial property lawyers must also alert clients to the financial risks and potential ongoing disruption from treatment works, which is usually a key requirement from the lender.”
The report also comes with additional support from knotweed specialist partners, Phlorum, who can offer a range of site treatment and eradication programmes, as well as a free identification service if there is uncertainty on how to spot the weed from other species.
Knotweed treatment specialists can also access GroundSure’s unique Projects Leads Service, which for the very first time will marry up knotweed location and construction project datasets.
“This offers knotweed management professionals a real opportunity to power their business development with high quality project leads.” Continued Montagnani.”We can create unique analysis of high risk sites matched with existing and planned development contracts, tailored to their location or market focus.”
The GroundSure Japanese Knotweed search report is available from today to property professionals from GroundSure’s order platforms or via their search resellers from just £65 plus VAT. For more information visit http://www.groundsure.com/products/commercial/japanese-knotweed
*Centre for Environmental Studies, Loughborough University.
