Drainage Strategy – Amersham, Buckinghamshire

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Southwest Environmental were contact my a firm of architects who required a Surface Water Management Plan (Drainage Strategy) for their site is amersham. The project involves the extension of an existing warehouse.

The additional roof area has the potential to create run-off. A design was put forward to counter this problem.

Run-Off is when water falls on a hard surface, and does not soak in to the ground. It then will “run-off” . . . but where will it go. Perhaps it is caused flooding elsewhere. This is the purpose of a Surface Water Drainage Strategy. It sets out a method for dealing with Run-Off

The report was prepared on a quick turnaround (5 working days) and submitted for review. Pending some minor amendments at request of the client the report was submitted to Chiltern District Council for Scrutiny.

Are current design avoids the use of soak-away drainage although is does recommend for some attenuation.

Indoor Air Quality Monitoring – Bristol

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SWEL Air Quality Consultants Bristol were approached by a site manager in Bristol who was concerned with odours in one of his companies meeting rooms. Southwest Environmental attended site to make an assessment of what was occuring.

It looked as though some carpet tiles on the floor of the room identified were “melted” in some way. It is likely we thought that some sort of solvent had been spilled on the floor. . .or had been present when the tiles were laid.

We start a rapid monitoring program for the presence of VOCs in the room in line with occupational exposure limits. We also sent the carpet tiles for analysis, to find out:

  • The type of Resin use in their making
  • Foreign contaminants (such as solvents)
We are awaiting results on both the monitoring and the analysis and will make conclusions is due course. 

Site Investigation – Trowbridge, Wiltshire

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Southwest Environmental has recently undertaken a site investigation in Trowbridge, Wiltshire. The purpose of the investigations were two fold.

  1. Find Out Soil Strengths
  2. Expose Existing Footings
The work was undertaken over 2 days, and the data was used to write a report on the state of the ground on site. The existing pad footing appear to be bedding directly on to the bedrock which was a cornbrash limestone: Limestone, medium- to fine-grained, predominantly bioclastic wackestone and packstone with sporadic peloids; generally and characteristically intensely bioturbated and consequently poorly bedded, although better bedded, commonly somewhat arenaceous units occur in places, particularly in the upper part. Generally bluish grey when fresh, but weathers to olive or yellowish brown. Thin argillaceous partings or interbeds of calcareous mudstone may occur.
SPT data was used to provide input data for bearing capacity calculations. These are then provided to the structural engineer.
SWEL undertake site investigation all over the UK. We try to do things on a quick turnaround where possible. 

Noise & Vibration Monitoring – Horsham, West Sussex

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Southwest Environmental Limited were recently commissioned undertake long term noise and vibration monitoring for a site in Horsham.

The site in question was a residential usage, with demolition and construction activities occurring immediately adjacent.

Concerns were raised by residents and site management with regards to the levels of noise and vibration experienced by residents.

SWEL acted rapidly to implement a monitoring program on behalf of the client, with an aim to reassure residents.

It was found that noise and vibration levels were for the most part below thresholds as described in the relevant British Standards, although there were some short term exceedances.

The situation has now been described to the residents and its is clear they have been reassured as the number of complaints has dropped significantly.

If you have any requirement for Noise and Vibration Monitoring please ring for a no obligation no charge discussion, and we will duly provide a fixed price quotation.

Farm Environmental Audit – Dorset

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Southwest Environmental Limited were commissioned by a national charity to make an Farm Environmental Audit or Review of there operations as a site in Dorset.

SWEL do undertake Agricultural work, this aspect suited or remit well in that the main focus of Environmental Audit was Surface Water Management and Waste Management both are topics we have considerable experience in.

A review was made of the premises, and a 21 page report was issued within 3 days of the visit, detailing findings and recommendations. We focused on low cost solutions to the problem in hand avoiding large capital expenditure requirements focusing on improvements to operating techniques and site management. 

Transfer Station Costings – Kent

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Southwest Environmental Limited have recently provided support to a company looking to establish a waste transfer station in Kent. The company were interested in costs of applying for an Environmental Permit. Besides the fees to the Environment Agency and Environmental Consultancy Fees, there are also various hardware and infrastructure costs to consider.

This is certainly the case with Fire Prevention where the EA request all manner of features installed to reduce risks from fire, and also fire water run-off.

Waste Transfer – Simple in Principal . . .  .

Based on our past experience with such matter SWEL prepared a list of requirements as we saw worst case. We included hardware costs and administrate costs on a spreadsheet (provided in XLS format) which we hope will be of use. The request was tuned around quickly in under 4 working days from commissioning.

Sequential Test Review – Rochford

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Southwest Environmental Limited have been commissioned by Rochford District Council , to make an independent review of a Sequential Test document on their behalf.

The site is within a regeneration area and as such the the search area justification for the site has been restricted to the regeneration area.

We have considerable experience in all things Flood Risk, and have been writing reports for 10 years this June. Much has changed over that time, but the Sequential Test has away been a problematic elements of flood risk reporting.

If you would like any help with reviewing your sequential test prior to submitting it to the council we would be happy to assist, we could also do the whole thing if you prefer.

Desktop Study – Slough

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Desktop Study – Slough

Acting on instruction from a client in Ealing Southwest Environmental Limited have prepared a desktop study fro site in Slough.

The desktop study has been made of the site and this revealed that historically the site was of primarily back garden use. But more recently had been used for other purposes.

As is normally the case SWEL order a comprehensive data set, so as to make a review of the site.

It was established that a Phase 2 Investigation is required, owing to current on site use, which is mixed between storage and vehicle repairs etc. 

The report was turned around in 5 days.

Drainage Report – Cullompton

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Drainage Report – Cullompton

Some areas of Cullompton are designated as a critical drainage area. You may have a planning condition which states that:

“As the application site falls within the Cullompton Critical Drainage Area, please submit a Flood risk Assessment”



A flood risk assessment typical is focused on flood risk to the site, when what is required in a Critical Drainage is a Surface Water Drainage Strategy.

The way to deal with most domestic / residential drainage requirement is permeable paves, with added features. Mots consider this an expensive option, but this is due to lack of understanding.

In order to capture run off you must provide a volume of “holding” (an attenuation volume) this usually provided my the spaces between gravels in a soak-away trench.

But why not use these same gravel as a sub-base for permeable paving? You will have to import fill for driveways anyhow. You end up using the aggregate twice for soak-away and for sub-base.

Water from roofs can be fed in to the sub base, and drive water just soaks straight in, avoid the requirement for gullies etc. There are no blockages from leaves.

Flood Risk Assessment – Devon

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Flood Risk Assessment – Devon

SWEL have recently completed a Flood Risk Assessment for a Site in Totnes, Devon. Our total turn around time for the production of the report was 7 workings days.

Detailed Flood Depth Data

Usual RoFRS Data but on High Resolution

The report includes in depth flood depth data, which was sourced on a quick turnaround.

The report include surface water details (brief), design details and sequential test. The site use type is not ordinary and we made a best case argument for vulnerability classification in this instance.

SWEL regularly prepare flood risk assessment for sites of all types across the UK. We aim to deliver a quick successful report which include a breadth of information suitable for the job in hand.

If you require a Flood Risk Assessment please Contact Us.