Do I need planning permission for a new soakaway?

Often not for domestic use, though this depends on scale and location and is worth checking as part of the design process.

How is a soakaway sized correctly?

Based on a percolation test of your actual ground, the catchment area draining into it, and BRE Digest 365 calculations — undersized soakaways are the most common cause of recurring surface water problems.

Planned work · Service

Soakaways

Surface water soakaway design, installation and rehabilitation — correctly sized for your ground conditions, not a generic default.

Get a quote 07942 442399

Trusted by homeowners and businesses across the South

Rapid response

24/7 dispatch across Dorset, Hampshire, Wiltshire, Somerset, Surrey and Devon.

Specialist engineers

One trained team from diagnosis to sign-off — no subcontracting.

Written quotes

Fixed prices agreed in writing before any work begins.

Soakaways across Dorset, Hampshire, Devon & the South.

Surface water soakaway design, installation and rehabilitation to BRE Digest 365. A specialist team of drainage engineers based in Bournemouth, covering Dorset, Hampshire, Wiltshire, Somerset, Surrey and Devon — from first callout to written sign-off.

What's included

What's included.

Every soakaway project starts with percolation testing to establish the actual drainage rate of your ground, since this determines correct sizing far more reliably than a standard assumption. From there, we design or rehabilitate the soakaway to BRE Digest 365, the established UK standard, and confirm all connecting drainage runs with a camera before completion.

Signs you need this

Signs you need soakaway work.

Surface water pooling, or taking noticeably longer to drain after rainfall than it used to, is usually the first sign a soakaway is struggling — common on clay-heavy ground where an existing soakaway that once coped is gradually silting up. A new extension, driveway or hard standing will also typically require new surface water drainage as part of the build, and some planning approvals include a soakaway as an explicit condition of development, making correct design essential to sign-off.

How it works

Everything you need to know about soakaways.

1. Percolation test

An on-site test measures how quickly the actual ground absorbs water, which determines correct sizing rather than a standard assumption.

2. Design and installation

The soakaway is designed and installed — or an existing failed one excavated and rehabilitated — to BRE Digest 365 standard.

3. Connection and testing

Connection to downpipes or surface drainage is confirmed and tested before sign-off, so it's working correctly from day one.

Book your soakaways quote today — free, no obligation.

Get a free quote 07942 442399

Five-star reviews across the South.

"Called at 11pm with a flooded downstairs. Engineer was there within the hour, cleared it and CCTV'd the run before leaving. Fixed price, no surprises."

— SarahEmergency Drain Unblocking

"Had a CCTV survey done before buying. Report was thorough, well presented, and picked up a fractured section our surveyor missed. Genuinely useful."

— MichaelCCTV Drain Survey

"Full drain reline under the driveway — no excavation needed. Team explained the process clearly and finished in a day."

— PriyaDrain Relining

FAQ

Answers before you call.

Most commonly silt build-up over time, or the ground conditions were never correctly tested when it was originally installed — a percolation test will confirm which.

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