Soakaways in West Dulwich that stop pooling water and protect your home. We design, test and install compliant systems using crate or rubble soakaways, with inspection chambers for easy servicing.
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If your garden or driveway is holding water after heavy rain, a properly designed soakaway can make the difference. We install drainage solutions across SE21, including around West Dulwich station and Belair Park. Our systems are sized to suit your roof and hardstanding areas, then connected neatly into existing drainage runs. The result is a cleaner, drier outdoor space with less risk of water tracking towards the property.
West Dulwich has plenty of Victorian villas, Edwardian houses and period conversions, often with mature planting and older drainage layouts. That mix can mean restricted access, shallow service runs and downpipes that have been altered over decades. We’re used to working with tight side returns and shared boundaries common around Dulwich Village and Herne Hill. Every design is tailored so the soakaway performs without disrupting established gardens.
We start with percolation tests and sizing calculations, then recommend the best build—crate systems or traditional rubble soakaways—based on ground conditions and available space. Installations include correct connections, Building Regs considerations and inspection chambers for future maintenance. You’ll get clear communication, tidy workmanship and a system designed to cope with London downpours. Local homeowners choose us because we solve the cause, not just the symptoms.
Ground conditions can vary locally, with pockets of heavier soil and tree roots near Dulwich Wood and Thurlow Park. We adapt depth, crate selection and geotextile detailing to keep infiltration consistent and prevent silting. Access and parking can be tight on residential streets, so we plan spoil removal and deliveries to minimise disruption. If existing drainage is older or misconnected, we trace runs and make safe, compliant connections.
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Costs vary with size, access and whether you need a new connection from downpipes or channel drains. As a guide, a small rubble soakaway might start around £1,200–£2,000, while a correctly sized crate system with excavation, geotextile wrap and an inspection chamber is often £2,000–£4,500+. If drainage runs need rerouting or reinstatement is complex, budgets can rise to £5,000–£8,000.
Most soakaway installations take 1–3 days on site, depending on excavation depth, access for machinery and the amount of reinstatement required. Percolation tests and sizing calculations are usually completed ahead of the main works, or on day one. Larger systems, long drainage connections, or working around services and tree roots can extend the job to 4–5 days. Wet weather and clay-heavy ground can also slow progress.
In many cases, soakaways and garden drainage works fall under permitted development, so planning permission isn’t required. However, rules can change if you’re altering levels significantly, working close to boundaries, or the property is listed or in a conservation area. Building Regulations and good practice still matter, especially for connections and discharge. We check constraints, advise on compliance, and can work with any requirements specific to the London Borough of Lambeth.
We provide a 10-year warranty on our soakaway installation workmanship, covering issues arising from incorrect installation, poor connections or system defects caused by our work. The warranty applies when the soakaway is used as designed and not overloaded by new impermeable areas added later without recalculation. We also advise on maintenance, including inspection chamber checks and silt management, to keep performance consistent over time.
Common options include modern crate systems (high capacity, compact footprint) and traditional rubble soakaways (simple, space dependent). We can also add silt traps, channel drains, and inspection chambers to improve maintenance and reduce blockages. The right choice depends on percolation results, available depth, proximity to buildings and trees, and the area being drained. We handle the percolation tests and sizing so the design matches your property and ground conditions.
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