From planning to construction

We can join a scheme at any stage and stay with it to the end. Some clients bring us in for a planning application, some to take a preliminary design through to detailed design, and some to support the contractor on site. Every scheme is led by one of our directors, each with over 15 years' experience in highway and drainage design.

Planning and feasibility

We test whether a site works before money is committed to a layout. That covers the access and visibility splays, the likely junction form, the highway boundary and land constraints, and a drainage strategy with the discharge points and storage the layout has to make room for. For a planning application we prepare the access drawings, the drainage strategy and flood risk assessment, and respond to the highway authority's and lead local flood authority's consultation comments.

Planning-stage work applies to any of our design services, from a single private access to a site-wide road and drainage layout.

Preliminary design

The layout is developed into a design: horizontal and vertical alignments, junction geometry, levels, and a drainage network sized for the site. Departures from standard are identified at this stage and agreed with the highway authority before detailed design starts. We respond to the Stage 1 road safety audit as designer.

Detailed design

The full construction package: general arrangement, setting out, levels, drainage, kerbing and surfacing, signs and lines to TSRGD, pavement design and construction details. Each discipline's Civil 3D model is combined into a federated model and checked before issue. We respond to the Stage 2 road safety audit as designer.

Technical approval and adoption

We prepare the technical submission, respond to the highway authority's technical audit and the water company's comments, and carry the design through to approval. Where a scheme is being adopted, we produce the drawings for the agreement.

Construction support

We answer the contractor's design queries, update the design when something on site changes, and provide 3D models for setting out and machine guidance. We respond to Stage 3 and Stage 4 road safety audits as designer.

Adoption routes

Every scheme is designed for the way it will be adopted or owned. We work under each of these routes:

Section 278. Works on the existing public highway to serve a development, such as a new junction, a widened road or a crossing, carried out by agreement with the highway authority.
Section 38. New roads built by a developer to adoptable standard, then adopted by the highway authority as public highway.
Section 184. A new vehicle access onto the existing highway, approved by the highway authority.
Section 104. Sewers built for adoption by the water company. See Drainage design and SuDS.
Private roads. Roads and car parks that stay in private ownership, designed to the standard the owner and the planning authority need.
Other highway authorities. Schemes on roads managed by other highway authorities, designed to their requirements and approval process.

Tell us where your scheme is up to

Call 01952 972207 or send us what you have so far, from a site plan to a full design. You'll hear back within one working day from the engineer who would take it on.