External Works, Levels Design and Earthworks

Essential considerations for drainage, flood prevention and planning development compliance.
For any new development, understanding and designing the external levels is imperative to ensure the site meets design standards in providing a safe and suitable development, as well as minimising costs where possible and/or designing retaining features and incorporating them into the wider design.
If you are planning a project we are able to review and provide the required external designs, to inform hard paved and landscaped areas, ensuring compliance with design standards.

What is Levels Design?

We can review the levels on a proposed site and produce a Building Regulations compliant design for submission to your Local Authority Building Control. This is particularly important on steep sites, where access issues can make achieving a compliant access tricky.
We will work with your architect or available site layout and provide valuable input to your optioneering to understand where significant retaining features may need to be across your site.

Why are Levels and Earthworks Design Important?

Planning permissions and local authorities are becoming more stringent on access matters and may require Part M access is achievable for a scheme. We can work with the site and apply the regulations appropriately to demonstrate compliance. We can also produce a site wide levels design to work alongside the drainage design, with patio, threshold and external levels identified which can help fix floor levels and identify areas of under build (substructure), retaining and tanking which can feed into the design work for the structural engineer on the foundations.
This is sometimes an iterative process with the architect or designer, looking at options on CAD or with hand calculations and sketches, to identify the best ways to manage levels.

When can a Consultant Help with External works, levels design, and earthworks?

External works, levels design, and earthworks are typically considered during the planning and design phase of construction or land modification projects. External works include drainage systems, landscaping and highways or roads. Level design factors correct site development for water, soil and accessibility. Earthworks focus on the land surface for stable foundations and construction. All these aspects are critical in flood risk management to ensure the future resilience of any site development, a consultant can ensure all these attributes are considered and well planned.