Discharging planning conditions for high-density residential redevelopments requires innovative and space-efficient drainage solutions. Nimbus Engineering recently partnered with Jet Developments to deliver a comprehensive SuDS Design and Report, successfully discharging surface water conditions for a new 9-flat residential block in the London Borough of Enfield.

Project Overview

Nimbus Engineering Consultants were commissioned by Jet Developments to provide a SuDS Design and Report to discharge the planning conditions imposed by Enfield Borough Council. The project involved the demolition of a single dwelling house and the erection of a three-storey block of 9 self-contained flats with associated access, car parking, cycle, and refuse storage.

Scope of Work & Expert Details

Our civil engineering experts delivered a full lifecycle drainage solution, moving from planning compliance through to construction-ready drawings. The specific technical work undertaken included:

• Designing a compliant surface water drainage strategy tailored for a highly constrained site using LIDAR data and Thames Water asset maps.
• Providing detailed below-ground drainage design packages, including foul water drainage, suitable for Building Regulations approval and construction.
• Managing Section 106 (S106) sewer connection approvals and capacity checks with Thames Water.
• Producing bespoke construction guidance for custom-built raingarden planters.

Overcoming Site Constraints & SuDS Design

As Enfield Borough Council’s requirements dictate at least one level of water treatment prior to any attenuation, and due to the strictly limited space available on site, we had to be highly efficient with our SuDS selection.

We designed several raingarden planters to treat the roof run-off, while filter drains were provided to deliver a level of treatment for the proposed hardscaping areas, which were also formed of permeable paving.

The remaining surface water was managed via an underground attenuation tank, with a strict flow restriction discharging safely to the existing surface water drainage network in the street.

Because the client wanted to build their own bespoke raingarden planters, we provided tailored construction guidance so they could be built accurately and effectively on site.

Detailed Engineering & Collaborative Design

This site was particularly challenging due to the limited space available, coupled with the absence of topographical or utility survey plans. We overcame this by completing the initial design using Thames Water asset maps and LIDAR data, which allowed the client to establish proposed site levels.

We held various collaborative meetings with the client and architect to produce several iterations of our design. This ensured the scheme not only satisfied Enfield Borough Council but was entirely practical to construct on site.

Furthermore, we expanded our scope to assist the client in securing S106 approvals from Thames Water, alongside a complete, detailed below-ground drainage and foul water design package for Building Regulations approval.

Client Testimonial & Outcome

Jet Developments were a fantastic team to collaborate with and kindly provided us with the following testimonial regarding our work:

“We use Nimbus for all our drainage and SuDS design and consultancy. As a smaller developer without in-house drainage experts, it’s critical that JET Developments has the right expertise supporting our new-build projects. Both Mircea and Sadia Luckett have helped us navigate drainage and SuDS issues on our recent construction projects in Enfield and Esher. The team at Nimbus have been instrumental in taking the headaches out of dealing with SuDS planning conditions, with their technical knowledge, design, and quality drawings. We would highly recommend the team at Nimbus to any developer looking for an expert drainage / SuDS partner.”

— Pete Samuel, Chief Operating Officer, Jet Developments

Need a SuDS Report or Detailed Drainage Design?

Nimbus Engineering specialises in producing planning-ready SuDS Reports, building regulations packages, and detailed drainage designs across the UK.

If you require expert drainage consultancy for a residential redevelopment, commercial site, or planning application, contact Nimbus Engineering Consultants for professional, compliant, and cost-effective solutions.