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Dirty Business and the Politics of Britain’s Water Infrastructure

Channel 4’s Dirty Business has been widely described as more than a television drama. The Guardian suggested it could become the next cultural catalyst capable of intensifying public anger over environmental failure — a “blast of controlled fury” aimed squarely…
Posted on 25th February, 2026
, in SuDS 
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Types of Flooding Explained: Sources of Flood Risk

Flooding can arise from several different sources, and understanding the types of flooding that may affect a site is an essential part of assessing flood risk for property, land and development proposals. While many people associate flooding primarily with rivers…
Posted on 19th February, 2026
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What Is Sewer Flooding? Causes, Risks and Planning Implications

Flooding can also occur when sewer systems are unable to carry or contain the volume of water entering them. This type of flooding is known as sewer flooding. Sewer flooding occurs when wastewater or stormwater escapes from the sewer network…
Posted on 18th February, 2026
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Ofwat Abolished: What IWC Report Means for Planning

England and Wales’s water sector is at a crossroads. Years of underinvestment, regulatory fragmentation and inconsistent planning alignment have combined to produce a sector-wide confidence crisis — one now spilling directly into the planning system. While water is far from…
Posted on 21st July, 2025
, in IWC 
, in SuDS 
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What is BS 6297 infiltration testing for foul drainage fields?

BS 6297 infiltration testing measures whether the ground on a site can absorb and treat effluent safely, and it is what decides whether a drainage field is a workable way to deal with foul drainage where there is no mains…
Posted on 26th June, 2025
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Thames Water Crisis: Sewage, Fines and Flood Risks

Thames Water, the UK's largest water utility, is embroiled in a deepening crisis, raising serious concerns about the sustainability of the privatised water industry. The company is battling on multiple fronts — staggering debt, regulatory fines, public outcry, and the…
Posted on 28th May, 2025
, in SuDS 
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Hosepipe Bans Loom Without Smarter Planning

As southern England inches toward what could become the driest spring in over a century, the warnings from regulators and water companies are unmistakable. Hosepipe bans may not yet be in place, but the message is clear: conserve water now,…
Posted on 19th May, 2025
, in SuDS 
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Foul, Surface & Combined Sewers: What to Know

When planning a new development, one crucial factor that developers, architects and planners must consider is how wastewater and surface water will be managed. The type of sewer infrastructure present on or near a site can significantly influence the design,…
Posted on 25th February, 2025
, in SuDS 
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Thames Tideway Tunnel: London’s Super Sewer Now Open

After ten years of construction, the Thames Tideway Tunnel is fully connected, with all 21 connections to London’s Victorian sewer system complete. The tunnel has already prevented 5.5 million cubic metres of sewage from entering the Thames—equivalent to 2,200 Olympic-sized…
Posted on 17th February, 2025
, in SuDS 
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Water Companies and the Planning Process: A Developer’s Guide

Water companies and the planning process are closely tied, even though the water company rarely appears on a decision notice. When you develop a site, your regional water and sewerage company is the body that confirms whether the network can…
Posted on 2nd September, 2024
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Internal Drainage Boards (IDBs): what they do and why they matter for planning

An internal drainage board (IDB) is an independent public body that manages water levels and land drainage in a low-lying area at particular risk of flooding. England has 112 IDBs covering around 1.2 million hectares, roughly 9.7% of the country,…
Posted on 27th August, 2024
, in NPPF 
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