Gondolin Land & Water was appointed to deliver a robust Surface Water Drainage Design at Fairfield Works in Rattray, Scotland. This project supports the redevelopment of a removals yard into a secure container storage facility, while ensuring compliance with local planning requirements and national drainage guidance.
Fairfield Works container storage yard, where Gondolin delivered a sustainable surface water drainage solution using wick drains and infiltration SuDS.
Sustainable Drainage for Scottish Industrial Redevelopment
The site lies within the Rattray Burn catchment and comprises predominantly level ground with permeable glaciofluvial soils. Our surface water drainage strategy was based on infiltration, using wick drains to ensure runoff from the proposed 50 storage containers and associated infrastructure could soak away efficiently into the underlying strata.
The system was designed to accommodate a 1-in-200 year storm event plus a 39% climate change allowance—exceeding the 35% uplift requested by the Local Planning Authority. The full drainage scheme was developed in line with CIRIA C753 SuDS Manual and SEPA’s latest climate projections.
Surface Water Drainage Design Highlights
Full infiltration-based SuDS system
No offsite discharge or sewer connection
Wick drains installed on a 5m x 5m grid to enhance percolation
Water quality assessment passed using the Simple Index Approach
Hydraulic modelling confirmed compliance with design storm scenarios
This strategy supports Gondolin’s commitment to delivering technically excellent, climate-conscious infrastructure throughout Scotland.
Environmental Protection and Planning Compliance
To satisfy Planning Condition No.8, our design had to demonstrate protection of the water environment and prevent flood risk to neighbouring properties. Trial pit investigations and infiltration testing confirmed that a wick drain approach would suit the local ground conditions.
Soakaway testing in progress at Fairfield Work to assess infiltration capacity for the surface water drainage design.
The final design was developed and modelled using MicroDrainage software, and successfully enabled the client to meet their planning obligations while enhancing the environmental performance of the site.
Working Across Scotland
Gondolin Land & Water has a growing track record in delivering Surface Water Drainage Design in Scotland for industrial, commercial, and rural developments.
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