CL:AIRE

What CL:AIRE does

CL:AIRE (Contaminated Land: Applications in Real Environments) is a UK registered charity and company limited by guarantee (Charity No. 1075611, Company No. 03740059) founded in 1999 and headquartered in Reading, England. Its purpose is to support the regeneration of contaminated land in the UK by raising awareness of, and confidence in, practical and sustainable remediation and reuse technologies. The organisation operates a portfolio of industry initiatives, accreditations, training programmes, and digital tools rather than a unified software product.

Its core offerings include the Definition of Waste Code of Practice (DoWCoP), which provides a regulatory-aligned framework for the reuse of excavated materials; the National Quality Mark Scheme (NQMS) for Land Contamination Management; the Gas Protection Verification Scheme (GPVS) with Specialist (SGPV) and Technician (TGPV) accreditation routes; the Qualified Person (QP) Register of 155 individuals authorised to sign off DoWCoP declarations; the Register of Materials marketplace linking Donor and Receiver sites; the GWSDAT 3.3 groundwater spatiotemporal data analysis tool (Excel-deployed, R-based); the Moodle-based eLearning Portal; and the Water and Land Library (WALL) knowledge repository. It also runs ten regional contaminated land forums and a Technology and Research Group (TRG) chaired by Ramboll and deputised by Jacobs.

CL:AIRE monetises through tiered annual membership (Principal £3,000 ex VAT, Supporter £500 ex VAT / £100 sole trader, free for Local Authorities), paid classroom and eLearning training (e.g., DoWCoP Training at £395+VAT per delegate), GPVS subscription renewals (£100 ex VAT) and accreditation declarations, DoWCoP project declaration fees, and publication sales. It serves environmental consultancies, remediation contractors, housebuilders, infrastructure operators (HS2 JVs, National Grid, NDA/Sellafield), local authorities, and academic institutions. Commercial project services for large, complex planning-stage projects are delivered through a wholly owned subsidiary, CL:AIRE Initiatives Ltd (Company No. 13628954).

Name

CL:AIRE

Legal name

CONTAMINATED LAND:APPLICATIONS IN REAL ENVIRONMENTS

Website

https://claire.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CL:AIRE is a UK charity founded in 1999 that provides standards, accreditation, training, and digital tools (DoWCoP, GPVS, NQMS, GWSDAT, QP Register) to support sustainable land reuse and contaminated land management for consultancies, contractors, housebuilders, infrastructure operators, and regulators.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Contaminated Land Management

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental Monitoring, Data & Reporting (Air/Water/Soil) (BPAIAMAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Methodology Development & Standard-Setting Support (Protocols, Tools, Updates) (EUABACAN)

Keywords

• Contaminated land remediation
• Sustainable land reuse
• Waste code of practice
• Brownfield redevelopment
• Professional accreditation schemes

Headquarters

HQ city

Reading

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees from Principal Members (£3,000 ex VAT) and Supporter Members (£500 ex VAT for organizations, £100 ex VAT for sole traders and academic institutions). Local Authorities receive free Supporter Membership.
2. Training Courses and eLearning: Classroom and online training events including DoWCoP Training (£395.00 + VAT), various technical courses on contaminated land topics. Remediation Technologies courses are free; other courses require payment and login.
3. GPVS Subscriptions and Declarations: Gas Protection Verification Scheme subscription renewals and declaration fees for accreditation of specialists and technicians in gas protection verification.
4. DoW CoP Declaration Fees: Fees for DoW CoP Qualified Person declarations and project registrations under the Definition of Waste Code of Practice framework.
5. Publications and Resources: Sale of publications, bulletins, and access to Water and Land Library (WALL) resources.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CL:AIRE develops and manages industry codes of practice (notably the Definition of Waste Code of Practice/DoWCoP), accreditation schemes (GPVS for gas protection verification, NQMS for document quality), professional registers, training programs, and technical resources that support sustainable reuse of contaminated and brownfield land in the UK. The organisation operates a membership ecosystem, runs classroom and online training, hosts industry forums, and maintains digital tools such as the GWSDAT groundwater analysis tool and the Register of Materials connecting soil donor and receiver sites.

Product overview

CL:AIRE is a UK charity focused on sustainable land reuse that offers a portfolio of initiatives, services, and tools rather than a unified software product. The core offerings include the DoW CoP (Definition of Waste Code of Practice) framework for material reuse, the Register of Materials for connecting donor and receiver sites, and GPVS (Gas Protection Verification Scheme) for gas membrane inspection accreditation. The organization provides CL:AIRE eLearning (powered by Moodle) for professional development and GWSDAT, a specialized Excel-based groundwater data analysis tool. Additional services include NQMS for document quality assurance, training courses (such as DoW CoP training at £395+VAT), and access to the Water and Land Library (WALL) for industry guidance. CL:AIRE also maintains registers of Qualified Persons, SGPV specialists, and TGPV technicians for industry accreditation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• DoW CoP (Definition of Waste Code of Practice) An industry code of practice providing a clear, consistent and efficient process for the reuse of excavated materials on-site or between sites, supporting sustainable and cost-effective land development. Used by consultants, developers, contractors, and regulators across the UK.
• Register of Materials A free digital platform linking soil and aggregate material holders with projects and sites requiring these materials, enabling Donor and Receiver site connections for sustainable soil reuse. Used by remediation contractors, developers, and site operators across the UK.
• GPVS (Gas Protection Verification Scheme) An accreditation scheme that raises standards in membrane inspection, verification and reporting, providing confidence that risks associated with ground gases have been adequately managed. Open to individuals working in gas protection verification on contaminated land and brownfield development projects.
• NQMS (National Quality Mark Scheme) A scheme developed by the National Brownfield Forum to provide visible identification of documents that have been checked for quality in land contamination management. Available to consultants, local authorities, and developers engaged in brownfield land assessment.
• CL:AIRE eLearning Portal An online learning management system powered by Moodle, providing eLearning courses for contaminated land professionals covering remediation technologies, risk assessment, asbestos in soil, and site investigation topics. Available globally with login; select courses are free.
• CL:AIRE Training Courses Technical and core-skills training initiatives including classroom training on DoW CoP, ground gas risk assessment, controlled waters, human health risk assessment, sustainable remediation, and asbestos in soil. Delivered in multiple UK cities for contaminated land professionals.
• Water and Land Library (WALL) An online repository providing access to relevant industry guidance, support materials, publications, bulletins, case studies, and technical resources for contaminated land professionals.
• Qualified Person (QP) Register A register of qualified individuals authorized to sign off DoW CoP project declarations, ensuring best practice is consistently and demonstrably applied across the UK.
• SGPV Register (Specialist in Gas Protection Verification) Register of specialists who have undertaken necessary training and passed required examinations for gas protection verification accreditation at the specialist grade.
• TGPV Register (Technician in Gas Protection Verification) Register of technicians who have completed training for gas protection verification accreditation at the technician grade.
• GWSDAT 3.3 (GroundWater Spatiotemporal Data Analysis Tool) A specialized software tool for spatio-temporal analysis and visualization of groundwater monitoring data. Enables users to analyze contaminant plumes over time and space, visualize data through various graphical outputs, and run statistical models for groundwater assessment. Used by environmental consultants and site investigators.

Quantifiable outcome

• DoWCoP provides alternative to Environmental Permits or Waste Exemptions, reducing administrative burden and project costs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Environment AgencycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1999Environment Agency is a Principal Member and key regulatory partner. CL:AIRE provides technical secretariat services and works with EA on industry initiatives including DoWCoP joint statements and Land Contamination Risk Management (LCRM) guidance.
• Natural Resources WalescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNatural Resources Wales is a Principal Member providing Welsh regulatory perspective. CL:AIRE works with NRW to ensure consistent approach to land contamination across Wales through Welsh Land Contamination Working Group.
• National Brownfield ForumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCL:AIRE provides technical secretariat services for the National Brownfield Forum, which developed the National Quality Mark Scheme (NQMS) for Land Contamination Management.
• Technology and Research Group (TRG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTRG is an advisory group supporting CL:AIRE on technology development and sustainable land reuse issues. Members include experts from Ramboll (Chair), Jacobs (Deputy Chair), Environment Agency, universities, and industry.
• HS2 (Balfour Beatty Vinci, EKFB)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHS2 Principal Members including Balfour Beatty Vinci (West Midlands section) and EKFB (80km civil engineering) participate in CL:AIRE initiatives with focus on materials management for major infrastructure.
• Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNDA is a Principal Member managing UK nuclear legacy sites requiring extensive land remediation and contamination management.
• CL:AIRE Initiatives LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCL:AIRE Initiatives Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of CL:AIRE providing DoW CoP Insight Service for project teams at planning stage of large scale and complex projects.
• DefracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDepartment for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs funding Land Remediation Pathfinder Scheme (£80m pilot) and collaborating on sustainable soils strategy. CL:AIRE referenced in Defra Environmental Improvement Plan 2023.
• Pledge to Net ZerominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCL:AIRE has committed to Pledge to Net Zero initiative, committing to greenhouse gas reduction targets aligned with 1.5°C climate scenario.
• International Soil Reuse Forum (ISRF) ParticipantsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerISRF established 2024 with participants from UK, France, Flanders Region (Belgium), and The Netherlands. CL:AIRE serves as secretariat, fostering discussions on mutual challenges and sharing good practices in soil reuse.
• Regional Contaminated Land ForumsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCL:AIRE supports 10 regional forums including ELQF (230+ members), NWBRF, SCLF, YCLF, SWCLF, providing free seminars and networking for brownfield practitioners.
• National Contaminated Land Officers Group (NCLOG)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCLOG established to give Contaminated Land Officers a voice nationally. CL:AIRE supports through hosted resources and connections with local authority members.
• Joint Industry Working Group Asbestos in Soil (JIWG)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCL:AIRE collaborates with JIWG on asbestos in soil guidance and training, including new Technical Guidance Series documents on asbestos air monitoring.
• Soils in Planning & Construction Task ForcemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCL:AIRE collaborates with Lancaster University-led task force on Local Soils Model Policy and Guide, supporting sustainable soil management in development.
• EARTHBANKS Project PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEarthbanks project involves r3 Environmental, Lancaster University, University of Plymouth, Durham University, University of East Anglia, and Ricardo, developing framework for soil depots across England and Wales.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• BSI Group (British Standards Institution): UK national standards body producing British and international standards across industries including environmental management (ISO 14001). Comparable to CL:AIRE as a standards publisher and accreditation provider, but operating across all industries rather than specialising in contaminated land.
• IEMA (Institute of Environmental Management & Assessment): UK professional body for environmental practitioners, offering membership, training, and standards across the broader environmental management profession. Comparable as a UK-wide professional association, though operating at much larger scale and broader scope than CL:AIRE's contaminated-land focus.
• The Society for the Environment (SocEnv): UK umbrella body for environmental professional bodies, including CIWEM, IEMA, and others. Comparable as a UK professional body operating across the environmental sector, though with a broader remit than CL:AIRE's contaminated land specialism.

Direct peers

• CIRIA: UK construction industry research and information association producing guidance, training, and standards across sustainability, contaminated land, and infrastructure. Closely comparable to CL:AIRE in serving as a UK industry body producing codes of practice, publications, and member-driven initiatives.
• Common Forum: UK-wide forum for contaminated land practitioners, regulators, and local authorities. Directly comparable to CL:AIRE's regional forum network (ELQF, NECLF, etc.) and overlapping mission of supporting practitioners through shared guidance and networking.
• Environmental Industries Commission (EIC): UK trade association representing environmental goods and services companies to government and regulators. Comparable to CL:AIRE in representing the UK environmental sector with a similar advocacy, policy, and membership-driven model.
• Remediation Association: UK trade body representing remediation contractors and suppliers in the contaminated land sector. Comparable to CL:AIRE in industry representation role and overlap in audiences (e.g. Jackson Remediation is a CL:AIRE Principal Member).
• SoBRA (Society of Brownfield Risk Assessment): UK professional society focused on risk-based assessment of brownfield land. Comparable to CL:AIRE in serving contaminated land professionals through specialist guidance, training events, and practitioner accreditation.

Emerging players

• SuRF-UK (Sustainable Remediation Forum UK): UK chapter of the Sustainable Remediation Forum focused specifically on sustainable remediation practices. CL:AIRE provides secretariat support, but the two are thematically comparable in promoting sustainability in remediation, and SuRF-UK could evolve into a more independent competing body.

Regional players

• SOCRATES Network: European network for contaminated land management education and training across European universities and institutions. Comparable to CL:AIRE in providing training and academic linkages for contaminated land professionals, but operating at a European rather than UK-only level.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cl-aire

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles24 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CL:AIRE