Percolation Tests provides BRE365 soakaway percolation testing and foul infiltration testing across Telford and the surrounding Shropshire new town area, supporting both new-build developments and self-build plots.
We are based in Wolverhampton, roughly 15 miles away, so Telford is genuinely local work rather than a long trip. We have carried out 98 tests within fifteen miles of Telford and 188 within twenty-five, so the ground around the town is familiar to us.
Ground conditions in Telford
Telford’s ground conditions are shaped by its industrial heritage as part of the historic Ironbridge Gorge coalfield, meaning made ground, mine workings, and variable fill are common considerations alongside natural sandstone and clay deposits. This mix makes site-specific percolation testing particularly important here, as ground disturbance from past industrial use can significantly alter infiltration rates compared to undisturbed land nearby.
The bigger complication around Telford is made ground. Generations of industry, quarrying and shallow coal working have left fill of very variable depth and composition, and it is a common reason for a soakaway design being questioned at planning. Infiltration through made ground can be quick in one trial pit and negligible in the next, so testing where the soakaway is actually going matters more here than almost anywhere. It is worth testing early: if infiltration is not viable, the whole drainage strategy has to change.
What we test for
- BRE365 percolation testing for surface water soakaway design
- Foul effluent infiltration testing (Part H) for septic tanks and treatment plants
- Drainage strategy support for planning submissions
What a BRE365 test involves
The method comes from BRE Digest 365, and it takes longer than most people expect. It is not one hole and a stopwatch.
- Trial pits are dug where the soakaway is proposed and taken below its intended base. How many depends on the size of the site and what the drainage design needs.
- Each pit is filled to at least 75% of its effective storage depth before timing begins.
- Each pit is then filled and timed three separate times, recording how long the water takes to fall from 75% to 25% of the effective storage depth.
- The slowest result is the one used, so the design is based on the worst case rather than a flattering one.
Because every pit is tested three times and has to drain fully in between, a proper test is not an hour’s work. We would rather tell you a site is unsuitable than hand over a figure that will not stand up at planning.
Planning conditions in Telford
Applications in the Telford area are dealt with by Telford and Wrekin Council, and drainage conditions are attached routinely — particularly on rural plots, barn conversions and self-builds with no mains surface water connection. The condition normally asks for infiltration testing to BRE365 and a soakaway design based on the result, approved before work starts.
Testing early is worth the trouble. If infiltration turns out not to be viable the drainage strategy has to change, and discovering that after the groundworks are priced is an expensive surprise.
Foul drainage and septic tanks
If the site is not on mains foul drainage that is a separate test. Drainage fields for septic tanks and package treatment plants are sized by the method in BS 6297, referenced by Part H of the Building Regulations, and that figure is not interchangeable with a BRE365 result. Plenty of rural sites around Telford need both, and we can do them on the same visit.
What you receive
- A full report with the recorded times for every pit and every fill
- The calculated infiltration rate, ready to hand to your engineer or planner
- Trial pit locations and depths
- Photographs of the testing on site
- A clear statement of whether a soakaway is viable, and if not, why not
Coverage
We test across Telford, Wellington, Dawley, Madeley, Ironbridge, Newport, and the surrounding area. Available Monday to Friday.
Get a quote
Contact us for a free, no-obligation quote for percolation or infiltration testing anywhere in Telford. Call 01902 475653 or request a quote online.
Percolation testing around Telford
Each dot is a site we have tested. 39 within ten miles of Telford, 154 within twenty-five.
Also serving Shropshire
This page is part of our coverage across Shropshire, which also includes:
Recent work near Telford
