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Drainage Installation
Expert drainage solutions for developments, councils, and commercial sites that can't afford failures
Poor drainage doesn’t just create puddles. It destroys programmes.
A drainage system that doesn’t meet adoption standards can lock up £100,000-£500,000 of your development capital for 12-24 months whilst you fix defects. Councils face emergency repair call-outs at £600+ per incident. Contractors get stuck managing interface disasters between five different specialists.
Get drainage designed and installed right, first time
You need systems that pass inspection immediately. No defects holding up Section 38 or Section 104 sign-off. No flooding complaints three months post-handover. No maintenance bills eating your operational budget.
We deliver this across the South West, South Wales, and Thames Valley. From initial design through to adoption sign-off, with every inspection passed first time.
What we can deliver for your site...
Why drainage systems fail, and why the consequences are expensive
The real-world impact...
There's a better way to handle drainage...
Drainage designed for compliance, installed for longevity. No defects, no delays, no surprises
Designed to pass inspection first time:
We know what adoption authorities look for because we've done hundreds. Gradients correct, connections sealed, capacity calculations verified. Your CCTV inspection is a formality, not a lottery.
SuDS expertise for 2025 standards:
Mandatory SuDS for major developments need multifunctional design—water quality, quantity, amenity, biodiversity. We deliver compliant systems that actually get approved.
Fixed-fee adoption management:
Our Backlog Defect Resolution service handles stalled schemes. Fixed price, clear timeline, adoption sign-off in 12-18 months versus 24-36 month industry average.
Sector-specific drainage solutions:
Agricultural yards, industrial logistics, holiday parks, council highways—each has unique requirements. Fuel-resistant binders, chemical interception, heavy-duty slot drains. We've built them all.
Whole-life cost optimization:
SuDS costs 10-20% more upfront but delivers 30-50% maintenance savings over 20 years. Net saving £75,000-£200,000+ depending on scale. We run the numbers to prove it.
One partner for integrated delivery:
Drainage doesn't exist in isolation. We coordinate with road construction, utilities, traffic management, adoption paperwork. You're not juggling five contractors praying they talk to each other.
Why developers, councils, and contractors choose Highways Plus
You need drainage specialists who understand that systems aren’t just pipes in the ground—they’re critical infrastructure determining whether schemes get adopted, capital gets released, and budgets stay intact.
Highways Plus is different:
Backlog Defect Resolution expertise:
Stalled Section 38/104 adoptions? We specialize in getting schemes unstuck. Fixed-fee service managing defect rectification, authority liaison, and final sign-off. Typical timeline: 12-18 months vs. 24-36 months doing it yourself.
2025 SuDS standards mastery:
We were implementing SuDS before the June 2025 National Standards made them mandatory. Multifunctional design, climate resilience modeling, Lead Local Flood Authority approval—we navigate the complexity so you don’t have to.
Section 104 adoption track record:
We’ve taken 50+ sewer schemes through adoption. We know what water authorities require, how to document properly, where inexperienced contractors create defects. Your adoption happens on schedule because we get it right first time.
Integrated service delivery:
Need drainage alongside road construction? Section 278 works? Traffic management? We handle everything. Single point of accountability, coordinated programme, one invoice.
Proven compliance credentials:
NHSS accreditation, ISO 9001/14001/45001 certification. Not just paperwork—these guarantee quality systems that prevent the defects delaying adoption.
Geographic focus on flood-vulnerable regions:
South West and Wales face acute flood risk. We design with regional hydrology in mind, coordinate with Environment Agency requirements, understand local authority priorities.
A clear, structured process that keeps your project moving
Drainage projects need careful design, regulatory approvals, quality-assured installation. Get any stage wrong and adoption timelines blow out by months.
What you get...
We phase delivery around critical approvals—design sign-off before construction, inspection checkpoints during installation, CCTV verification before handover.
Typical timelines: 8-12 weeks for straightforward commercial drainage, 12-16 weeks for SuDS requiring LLFA approval, 16-24 weeks for Section 104 sewers including defects period. Backlog defect schemes: 12-18 months to adoption.
Site assessment and hydrological analysis:
Topographical surveys, ground investigation, soil permeability testing. We establish water flows, infiltration capacity, discharge constraints. You get drainage designed for your actual site conditions, not generic assumptions.
Regulatory approvals and agreements:
Section 104 applications to water authorities, SuDS Approval Body submissions, Lead Local Flood Authority consultation. We manage the bureaucracy, secure approvals, keep timelines on track.
Installation with quality checkpoints:
Trench excavation to design gradients, pipe laying with pressure testing, chamber installation with sealed connections. Laser-verified levels, nuclear density testing for compaction, CCTV inspection capturing everything.
Adoption and handover documentation:
As-built records in CAD/GIS, CCTV survey results, compliance certificates, maintenance manuals. Everything authorities need for sign-off, delivered as one complete package.
Drainage installation CASE STUDY
Council highway network, Somerset
The Challenge:
- Local authority facing chronic flooding on B-road serving three villages. Surface water overwhelmed outdated drainage, causing regular closures during heavy rainfall.
- Existing piped system undersized for current rainfall patterns. No attenuation, straight discharge to watercourse creating flood risk downstream. Residents complaining, councillors demanding action.
- Reactive maintenance (gully jetting, emergency repairs) costing £18,000 annually with no improvement. Capital budget tight—needed cost-effective solution with minimal disruption to rural traffic.
Our Solution:
- Hybrid system integrating SuDS with upgraded piped drainage. Roadside swales providing initial filtration and attenuation, new larger-diameter pipes handling peak flows, underground storage tanks regulating discharge.
- Phased construction during off-peak hours maintaining single-lane traffic flow. Chapter 8 traffic management with convoy working, minimizing impact on village access.
- Designed to 1:100 year plus 40% climate resilience factor. Coordinated with Environment Agency on discharge consents, secured LLFA approval in four weeks through pre-application consultation.
The Outcome:
- Drainage capacity increased 180% handling projected 2050 rainfall
- Zero flooding incidents in 18 months post-completion (previously 8-12 annually)
- Reactive maintenance costs reduced 65% (£18,000 to £6,300 annually)
- Completed in 11 weeks against 14-week programme, £8,000 under budget
Proven delivery of drainage installation across diverse sectors
Different sites need different drainage approaches. Industrial yards aren’t designed like residential estates. Agricultural facilities have unique spill risks. Councils face budget constraints developers don’t.
Sectors that rely on us:
Property developers:
Section 104 adoption-compliant sewers for housing schemes. Backlog defect resolution accelerating stalled adoptions. Fixed-fee certainty compressing timelines to 6-9 months and releasing locked capital.
Local authorities and councils:
Highway drainage upgrades, SuDS retrofits, reactive maintenance reduction. Compliant solutions meeting 2025 standards whilst controlling whole-life costs. Budget-conscious delivery with proven 30-50% maintenance savings.
Commercial property and retail:
Car park drainage, permeable surfaces, attenuation systems. Aesthetic finishes meeting planning requirements whilst handling peak flows. Minimal disruption to trading operations during installation.
Industrial and logistics:
Heavy-duty drainage for HGV yards, warehouse loading areas, distribution facilities. Fuel-resistant systems, rapid-response slot drains, chemical spill interception. Designed for 40-tonne vehicle loading.
Agriculture and rural enterprises:
Yard drainage for milking parlours, grain stores, machinery areas. Systems handling slurry, fuel, chemicals. Robust construction withstanding agricultural traffic and seasonal weather extremes.
Main contractors:
Integrated drainage within larger construction projects. Professional coordination, programme-aligned delivery, adoption-ready documentation. Reliable partner who doesn’t create interface disasters.
Your Drainage installation questions, answered...
How long does Section 104 adoption take?
Design approval: 4-8 weeks. Agreement signing: 2-4 weeks. Construction with inspections: 8-16 weeks. Defects period: 8-12 weeks. Final sign-off: 2-4 weeks. Total 6-9 months typical for competent contractors, 12-18 months for inexperienced firms making defects.
What's the cost of drainage installation?
Depends on complexity and scale. Residential schemes: £13,000-£21,000 for complete foul and surface water. Commercial car parks: £30-£54 per m². Industrial yards: £50-£90 per m². Large attenuation systems: £150,000-£500,000+. We provide free assessments with transparent quotations.
Is SuDS more expensive than traditional drainage?
Upfront cost 10-20% higher. However, SuDS delivers 30-50% lower maintenance over 20 years, 2-3% property value uplift, faster planning approvals (often required anyway). Break-even typically 5-7 years. Net saving £75,000-£200,000+ over scheme life.
Can SuDS handle heavy industrial traffic?
Yes, with specialist design. We use fuel-resistant binders, sealed permeable surfaces, rapid-response slot drains, spill interception chambers. Industrial sites including ports and logistics hubs use SuDS successfully when engineered properly. We assess site-specific risks and specify appropriate materials.
Why do drainage defects delay adoption?
Authorities inspect drainage before accepting maintenance responsibility. Common defects: incorrect gradients (water doesn’t flow), poor connections allowing leaks, ponding in channels, sediment from construction. Each defect needs remediation and re-inspection, adding 8-12 weeks per cycle. We prevent defects through quality-assured installation.
What maintenance does drainage require?
Traditional piped systems: annual gully inspection and jetting, blockage clearing as needed. Cost £0.55-£2.50 per m² annually. SuDS: quarterly gully checks, annual vegetation management, occasional seal-coat renewal in spill zones. Typically 30-50% lower maintenance costs than conventional systems.
How do you handle existing drainage conflicts?
Ground Penetrating Radar and CCTV surveys locate existing infrastructure before we dig. Where conflicts exist, we design around them or coordinate diversions. Detailed surveys prevent expensive discoveries mid-construction.
Can you fix drainage on stalled adoption schemes?
Yes—our Backlog Defect Resolution service specializes in unstuck stalled Section 38/104 adoptions. Fixed-fee service managing defect identification, remediation, authority liaison, final sign-off. Typical timeline 12-18 months versus 24-36 months managing it yourself.
What happens if drainage fails after installation?
During defects period (typically 12 months), we remediate any failures at no cost—part of our fixed-fee service. Post-adoption, maintenance responsibility transfers to local authority (S38 roads) or water company (S104 sewers). We provide maintenance manuals and optional ongoing support contracts.
Need to understand what drainage solution your site requires?
Book a Free, No-Obligation Drainage installation Assessment
We’ll visit your site, assess existing systems or proposed requirements, identify compliance obligations, provide a written report with transparent quotation showing upfront costs and 20-year whole-life analysis.
No obligation, no sales pressure—just expert advice from specialists who’ve designed and installed drainage across 200+ developments, council projects, and commercial sites.
Call or fill out our form and we'll be in touch within 24 hours.
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