Alternative to soakaway

[Oceanjules]

Hi,

 

looking for some input here please. What would be the best solution to have a rainwater outfall without digging up a driveway? 
 

We recently had an extension done and this is the last one prior to completion. The current downpipe runs to the flower bed and the BCO made a comment about it. 
 

I will also get back in contact with the architect to ask for solutions. I just need to know the options are as I’m stressing about it. 
 

Thank you. 

[LDNRennovation]

A gulley drain, aco, leading into a drain outlet? You might even be able to do a french drain in the flowerbed or something, if you can’t move the soakaway to the lawn.
 

It’s hard to know without the plan and the planning implications. 
 

I wouldn’t stress about it, it’s not a major issue and it’s rarely even checked from what I can tell.

[SimonD]

I have this question as an issue I've been kicking down the road. Building Regulations says either into a drain (by whatever means) or soakaway. My first BCO was happy with a french drain out onto the sloping ground in front of the house (but this wasn't followed up in writing). Now I'm being asked to either have it into drain or soakaway. A customer recently had an extension done to their house and they used a drainage channel to get to the foul drain. I might do the same if I can.

[LDNRennovation]

The foul drain might be an issue, it’s only for circumstances which mean you absolutely can’t use a soakaway and you absolutely need permission to do this. I’d avoid it as being flooded with foul water isn’t a joke! Might need a trapped gulley if so? 
 

 

[SimonD]

 

1 hour ago, LDNRennovation said:

The foul drain might be an issue, it’s only for circumstances which mean you absolutely can’t use a soakaway and you absolutely need permission to do this

.

In my instance, it's an existing building that had a combined system before we began works and due to the terrain, being on a steep slope and where the down pipes are located, there is no choice other than to do it because the existing underground drains are in the way so we can't dig any new ones. And yes, will absolutely be into a trapped gulley

[kandgmitchell]

Going back to the OP's question. Can you clarify, when referring to a downpipe going to a flower bed - is that an existing one or the one off the new extension? Not sure why you would need to dig up a driveway if there is access to a soft area such as a flowerbed.

[Oceanjules]

No, it’s not an existing one. There is an existing one on the side to catch the water from the side of the side and this pipe is for the bit of flat roof from the front. We extended the pipe to the middle of the flower bed so the water won’t end up next to the garage. The BCO wants a solution for it as it must have a rainfall outlet. Customer doesn’t want to dig up the newly installed driveway. 

[ProDave]

17 hours ago, Oceanjules said:

We extended the pipe to the middle of the flower bed so the water won’t end up next to the garage. The BCO wants a solution for it as it must have a rainfall outlet. Customer doesn’t want to dig up the newly installed driveway. 

Why not dig up the flower bed, install a proper soakaway under the flower bed then put the soil and plants back?

[Nickfromwales]

On 09/01/2026 at 10:24, SimonD said:

I have this question as an issue I've been kicking down the road. Building Regulations says either into a drain (by whatever means) or soakaway. My first BCO was happy with a french drain out onto the sloping ground in front of the house (but this wasn't followed up in writing). Now I'm being asked to either have it into drain or soakaway. A customer recently had an extension done to their house and they used a drainage channel to get to the foul drain. I might do the same if I can.

Only an option if you get permission to discharge storm water into the foul

network aka ‘combined sewer’, otherwise you could be in a spot of bother if an issue ever occurs downstream. 

[Nickfromwales]

On 07/01/2026 at 19:22, Oceanjules said:

I will also get back in contact with the architect to ask for solutions. I just need to know the options are as I’m stressing about it. 

This person should have given you the correct solution at the outset, as your principal designer!!

 

Another shining example of the differing levels of competency that are out there. 

[SimonD]

3 hours ago, Nickfromwales said:

Only an option if you get permission to discharge storm water into the foul

network aka ‘combined sewer’, otherwise you could be in a spot of bother if an issue ever occurs downstream. 

 

Honestly, I wanted to avoid this like the plague, but it's the building warranty underwriter that is being a **** about this and a few other things. However, we are technically okay as it's still an existing house that used to have a combined system. It  looks like there is only one down pipe that will have to do this.

 

I suppose the other option is like the previous owner/builder of the house did - which was to bring the down pipe down into the ground, making it look like it was going to a drain but in fact it was only going into the ground by about 40cm where the pipe just finished! (I'm only kidding but it's amazing to find what some people do)