Do I need permission for a soakaway?

Most domestic soakaways fall under Building Regulations rather than planning permission. We will tell you what applies to your project and how far it must sit from buildings and boundaries.

How long does installation take?

A typical domestic soakaway is installed in one to two days, depending on access and ground conditions.

How do I know if I need a soakaway?

Persistent standing water, saturated lawns, water running off a driveway or gullies overflowing in heavy rain all point to surface water having nowhere to go.

How do you decide if my site is suitable?

We carry out a percolation test to see how quickly the ground accepts water, and check distances from buildings, boundaries and any existing drainage before sizing the system.

Why has my existing soakaway stopped working?

Most silt up over time, or were undersized for the area they drain. Testing and inspection shows whether it can be jetted and recovered or needs replacing.

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Our Services

Soakaway Installation & Drainage

Standing water, saturated lawns and overflowing gullies usually mean surface water has nowhere to go. A properly sized soakaway solves it at source.

Call 0330 128 1329

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Soakaway Installation

Surface water building up on your property? A soakaway may be the right solution.

A soakaway lets surface water drain slowly into the ground rather than overwhelming gutters and drains. We design and install soakaways for gardens, driveways and commercial sites — crate systems, rubble-filled and French drains depending on ground conditions.

Residential garden soakaways
Driveway and hard-standing drainage
Crate soakaways and French drains
Soakaway testing and condition reports

Book a Site Assessment 0330 128 1329

Designed for your ground, not a guess

We carry out a percolation test to measure how quickly your soil accepts water, then size the soakaway to the roof or hard-standing area it serves and to Building Regulations Part H guidance.

Systems we install

Modular crate soakaways for high volumes in a compact footprint, traditional rubble-filled pits where access is limited, and French drains to intercept water running across a garden or driveway.

Existing soakaway failing?

Older soakaways silt up and stop accepting water. We can test, jet and inspect an existing system and advise whether it can be recovered or should be replaced.

Signs You Need a Soakaway or Surface-Water Work

Soakaway work is planned drainage rather than an emergency. These are the conditions that usually prompt it.

Standing water on a lawn, patio or driveway after rain
Ground that stays saturated for days
Gutters and gullies overflowing in heavy downpours
Water running towards a building or across a boundary
A new driveway, extension or outbuilding needing surface-water drainage
An existing soakaway that has silted up and stopped accepting water

How a Soakaway Installation Works

1
Site assessment
We look at where the water comes from, how much area drains to it, and where a soakaway can legally and practically sit relative to buildings and boundaries.
2
Percolation testing
A test measures how quickly your ground accepts water. Clay ground behaves very differently from sand, and the result determines whether a soakaway is viable at all.
3
Sizing and design
The system is sized to the roof or hard-standing area it serves, following Building Regulations Part H guidance rather than a standard hole.
4
Installation
Excavation, a modular crate system, rubble-filled pit or French drain as appropriate, wrapped and connected to the surface-water run, then backfilled and reinstated.
5
Maintenance advice
How to keep silt and leaf litter out, and how an existing system can be tested and jetted if performance drops.

Failing soakaway or a drainage defect?

Not every waterlogging problem is a soakaway problem. Sometimes the surface-water run into it is blocked or broken, which a CCTV survey establishes quickly. We check that before recommending a new installation.

Enquiries

Ask about soakaway installation

Send your postcode and phone number and we'll confirm availability for your area and talk you through what the job involves. No call-out charge, and a fixed price agreed before any work starts.

Prefer to talk it through? Call 0330 128 1329 — answered 24/7.

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FAQs

Soakaway Installation — Common Questions

Brilliant service! They arrived within the hour and sorted our blocked drain quickly and professionally. No call-out charge was a huge bonus. Highly recommend!

Sarah T.

Bournemouth

Really impressed with the CCTV survey and clear report we received. Friendly team, fixed price and no mess left behind. Fantastic service!

Mark R.

Southampton

Called late at night with an emergency and they were with us fast. Great communication and sorted the problem first time. Top company!

Emma L.

Salisbury

Want to see the standard of our work? Read write-ups of recent drainage jobs.

Advice centre

Helpful Drainage Guides

Soakaway Problems: Signs, Causes and What to DoStanding water, a soggy lawn or an overflowing gully after rain often points at the soakaway rather than the drain.Read the guide

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Where we work

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