Drainage Strategy
Drainage Strategy from Castledine & Co
Drainage Strategies
A Drainage Strategy sets out how surface water drainage and foul water drainage will be managed as part of a development. A clear drainage strategy is often needed to support a planning application, demonstrate drainage compliance, and show that a site can be developed without increasing flood risk.
A professional drainage strategy report helps explain how rainwater runoff, surface water, and wastewater will be safely controlled. It can also help satisfy local planning authority, Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA), and other planning requirements.
A good drainage strategy can help with Supporting a planning application, managing surface water runoff, reducing flood risk, demonstrating suitable drainage design and meeting local authority and LLFA requirements.
A typical drainage strategy reviews existing and proposed surface water drainage, foul water drainage arrangements, SuDS and Sustainable Drainage Systems, soakaways, attenuation tanks, and discharge points, ground conditions, soil permeability, groundwater levels and surface water discharge rates and site constraints.
The Importance of a Drainage Strategy
A well-defined drainage strategy is the backbone of sustainable site design, serving as a comprehensive roadmap for managing water across a development's entire lifecycle. Beyond mere pipework, a robust strategy integrates Flood Risk Assessments (FRA) and Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) to ensure that every drop of runoff is accounted for, treated, and discharged safely. By addressing water management at the earliest planning stages, a drainage strategy prevents costly retrospective fixes, simplifies regulatory compliance, and protects the long-term integrity of both the built environment and the natural landscape. Ultimately, prioritising a strategic approach to drainage minimizes environmental impact and bolsters a project’s resilience against the increasing frequency of extreme weather events.
