Client: Residential Property Owner in London.
Scheme: Construction of a 4-bedroom house and the relocation of cycle/refuse storage.

The Challenge: Determine if a new family home could handle surface water run-off.

Ashfield was commissioned to conduct a Flood Risk and Drainage Assessment for a project involving the construction of a four-bedroom family house and the relocation of cycle and refuse stores.

The site, located in Flood Zone 1, was considered low-risk from all flooding sources. However, despite this low-risk designation, it was essential to address surface water drainage and determine whether the site could adequately handle surface water run-off.

Ashfield’s challenge was to ensure that the assessment provided thorough analysis and viable solutions to support the planning application.

Our Approach: Detailed drainage strategy to accommodate climate change.

To meet this challenge, Ashfield conducted a comprehensive, site-specific Flood Risk Assessment (FRA) which also included a detailed drainage strategy. This assessment was carried out in strict accordance with the latest local and national policies to ensure compliance and relevance.

Ashfield calculated the site’s capacity to accommodate surface water attenuation for extreme weather events, including those up to and exceeding the 1-in-100-year storm, with a 40% allowance for climate change impacts.

Outcome: Long-term resilience against flood risk.

The planning permission for the project was granted, contingent on adherence to the recommendations outlined in our assessment.

We provided detailed recommendations to incorporate during the design stage, aimed at reducing flood risks associated with surface water and artificial sources, ensuring the long-term resilience of the site.

The incorporation of sustainable drainage solutions into the development design promoted environmental sustainability and compliance with modern drainage standards.

Ashfield ensured the development secured the necessary planning approvals.