Flood risk and drainage, properly understood.
My work spans flood risk assessment, flood investigation, drainage design, surface water management, SuDS and flood resilience.
The approach is investigative rather than formulaic: understand the site, test the available evidence and develop advice or designs that respond to the real problem, rather than simply producing a report.
All consultancy commissions are undertaken through FPS Environmental Ltd, the engineering and environmental consultancy within the FPS Group®.
The report is an output, not the service.
A Flood Risk Assessment, drainage strategy or investigation report is only useful if the work behind it is sound.
We start by understanding the site, the decision that needs to be made and the evidence required. That can involve flood data, drainage records, site levels, historic events, surveys, hydraulic modelling, planning policy and the practical behaviour of water on and around the site.
The resulting report, strategy or design should explain the evidence, resolve the relevant questions and provide a practical route forward.
What the work covers
Flood risk assessment and planning
Flood Risk Assessments, sequential and exception test input, climate-change assessment, planning support and advice on development within areas of flood risk.
Drainage design and surface water strategies
Surface water drainage strategies, SuDS design, runoff calculations, attenuation, discharge arrangements and drainage designs developed around the site's actual constraints.
Flood investigation and resilience
Investigation of flood mechanisms, property flood resilience, drainage and sewer interactions, mitigation options and practical measures to reduce future risk.
Strategic and specialist advice
Advice for significant property decisions, public-sector programmes, insurance matters, legal disputes and situations where the existing evidence requires senior technical interpretation.
Delivered by FPS Environmental
Flood risk and drainage consultancy is commissioned to and delivered by FPS Environmental Ltd.
I founded the business and lead the FPS Group. Depending on the nature of the commission, work may involve me directly or be led by another suitably qualified member of the FPS Environmental team. Projects are allocated according to the expertise, technical requirements and level of senior input they require.
The team includes flood-risk engineers, drainage specialists, surveyors and environmental consultants working on projects throughout the UK.
Flood risk, drainage and environmental engineering consultancy.
FPS Environmental works with property owners, developers, planning teams, insurers, legal professionals, local authorities and other organisations requiring evidence-led technical advice.
Every commission is undertaken by the company and supported by the appropriate members of its engineering and consultancy team.
My role in the work
I am a civil engineer, Chartered Water and Environmental Manager and Fellow of CIWEM. I founded FPS after experiencing flooding at my own family home in 2007, and flood risk, drainage and resilience have been my professional field ever since.
My role includes shaping technical approaches, reviewing evidence, advising on strategy and contributing directly to selected projects where my experience is particularly relevant. I also lead the wider business and the standards by which consultancy work is delivered.
My work has ranged from individual properties and development sites to flood-resilience programmes, public-sector studies, drainage strategies, investigations and complex advisory matters. I regularly contribute to national discussions on flooding through the BBC, Sky News and other media.
Flood risk and drainage consulting, answered.
What does a flood risk consultant do?›
A flood risk consultant investigates how likely a site is to flood, from which sources, and what can be done about it. That can mean assessing a site for planning, investigating why a property has already flooded, or advising on drainage, resilience measures and repair. The output is a clear report the client can act on: for a purchase, a planning application, an insurance matter or peace of mind.
Do I need a flood risk assessment for planning?›
Many applications do. Sites in Flood Zones 2 and 3 generally require a flood risk assessment, as do larger sites in Flood Zone 1 and sites with known surface water risk. Tell the FPS Environmental team about your site and they will quickly advise whether an FRA is needed and what it should cover.
Can you help after a flood has happened?›
Yes. Investigating flood mechanisms is a core part of the work: establishing what happened and why, providing evidence for insurers or disputes, and advising on repair and resilience so the property recovers better prepared, in line with schemes such as Build Back Better.
Will Simon work on my project personally?›
All commissions are undertaken by FPS Environmental Ltd and allocated according to the expertise and level of senior input they require. Depending on the nature of the project, that may involve Simon directly or be led by another suitably qualified member of the team, with the same standards applying either way.
Do you work across the UK?›
Yes. The FPS Environmental team is based in Nottingham and works nationally, on projects ranging from individual homes to development sites, portfolios, infrastructure and public bodies.
Go deeper with the FPS Group.
Guides, articles and case studies from across the group on the thinking behind the work.
Start a flood risk or drainage enquiry.
Tell the FPS Environmental team about the site, project or problem and what you need to achieve. We will review the information, identify the appropriate technical approach and confirm who within the team should lead the work.
All consultancy appointments, proposals and commissions are issued through FPS Environmental Ltd.