A soakaway is an underground system that collects rainwater from roofs, driveways and hard surfaces and allows it to soak slowly into the surrounding soil. Modern soakaways use plastic crates wrapped in a permeable membrane, creating a void where water can temporarily store before dispersing into the ground.

Soakaway installation in Covent Garden - WC2 typically starts from around £950 for a standard domestic system and can rise to several thousand pounds for larger crate systems or commercial installations. The final price depends on access, soil type, depth, required capacity and reinstatement works.

In many cases, yes. A site survey allows us to check space, levels and existing drainage. Percolation tests help determine how quickly water drains through your soil, which affects how large the soakaway needs to be and whether a soakaway is suitable in that location.

Soakaways should be positioned a safe distance away from buildings, boundaries and trees, and ideally at a lower point on your property. We follow best practice guidance for distances from walls and foundations and ensure the soakaway is accessible for installation and any future inspection.

In most situations, a correctly sized and installed soakaway dramatically reduces or eliminates standing water and localised flooding. However, performance depends on overall drainage design, soil conditions, rainfall intensity and the total area draining into the system. We will always be honest about what a soakaway can realistically achieve at your property.

Yes, provided the soakaway is designed with sufficient capacity. It’s common to connect several roof areas, gullies or channel drains into one central soakaway, particularly for driveways and extensions. We calculate the area contributing water and size the system accordingly.

Modern plastic crate soakaways, installed with the correct membrane and backfill, are designed to last many years. Regular maintenance of gutters, downpipes and inlets (to stop silt and debris entering the system) will help extend the life of your soakaway and maintain performance.

In most domestic situations, soakaways are considered permitted development and do not need separate planning permission. However, they may be specified as a condition for new builds or extensions, and Building Control may require evidence of design and installation. We can help with the information they need.

Heavy clay soils drain slowly and may limit the effectiveness of soakaways. In these areas, careful design, percolation tests and sometimes alternative or supplementary drainage solutions are needed. During our survey we will advise whether a soakaway is suitable and, if so, how it should be sized and positioned.

Yes. Many older soakaways eventually clog or were undersized from the start. We can locate the existing soakaway, assess why it has failed and design a new system – often using modern crates and better positioning – to resolve the problem long-term.

We cover Greater Covent Garden - WC2 and many surrounding areas, including parts of Essex, Kent, Surrey, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire, depending on project size and access. If you are unsure, get in touch and we’ll confirm if we can attend your property.

We can often schedule installations within 1–2 weeks of the survey, sometimes sooner depending on existing bookings and materials. If your drainage problem is urgent, we will do our best to prioritise your job where possible.

We accept payment via bank transfer and other common methods. For some projects, a deposit is required prior to ordering materials and booking installation dates, with the balance payable on completion.

We stand behind the quality of our workmanship and materials. Specific guarantee details depend on the type of system installed and ground conditions; we are happy to discuss this during your survey and include it in your quote.

You can book by calling 07897031214, sending a WhatsApp message to 07747178880, or filling in one of the contact forms on this page with details about your property and drainage issues. We’ll get back to you with availability and a tailored quote.