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Protecting a Devon community with an 8x increase in drainage capacity, delivered on time and on budget.
For many years, the community of Venn Ottery experienced persistent flooding, most recently during the severe floods in May 2023. Investigations identified the primary cause to be an undersized culvert that struggled to cope with peak flows, resulting in frequent road closures, property flooding, and community disruption.
Working closely with Devon County Council engineers and the Environment Agency, we developed a detailed plan to replace the failed infrastructure while maintaining the natural flow of the stream throughout the works.
When buried services prevented the original box culvert design, our team rapidly developed an alternative that actually improved hydraulic performance.
This nearly eight-fold increase dramatically reduces the risk of future flooding and equips the system to handle extreme weather events far more effectively.
Our ability to respond rapidly to unexpected challenges was critical to the project's success.
Early excavation revealed multiple buried services running directly through the footprint of the proposed culvert, many of which were immovable.
The original design—an 18m long 1.5m x 0.5m box culvert—could not be installed as planned due to the service conflicts.
The natural flow of the stream needed to be maintained throughout the works to protect the environment.
Throughout the project, the crew worked through severe weather, including periods under yellow weather warnings.
“Devon County Council expressed full satisfaction with the solution and the adaptability shown on site.”
“Local residents and Venn Ottery and Southerton Residents Association are extremely pleased with the outcome.”
From flood alleviation to drainage solutions, our experienced team delivers complex civil engineering projects on time and on budget. Contact us to discuss your requirements.