Drainage design
We design surface and foul water systems for residential developments, commercial sites and bespoke dwellings. Every strategy is coordinated with your project’s design and regulatory requirements.
Civil Engineer Consultants
dbstructural is a civil engineering consultancy.
Our team of civil engineer consultants support developers, architects, contractors and homeowners across the UK with civil engineering design for residential and commercial projects.
Our civil engineer consultants work on projects across the UK. From drainage strategies for one-off homes to highways adoption for larger developments, we deliver compliant, coordinated designs that are individually calculated for each project and ready to build.
With a strong knowledge of planning authorities, ground conditions and highways requirements, we ensure schemes move forward without unnecessary delay.
Civil engineering services
Our civil engineering consultancy provides a range of civil engineering services at all stages of the RIBA Plan of Works. This includes drainage, external works and highways design. We deliver drainage strategies and detailed designs, site levels and retaining walls, and highways agreements under Sections 278, 38, 184 and 218. As structural engineers too, we offer one coordinated team from planning to construction.
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Why work with us?
We are straight-talking civil engineer consultants who stand by strong values.
- Local authority experience: We work on behalf of our clients to interpret and deliver designs in line with councils and highway authorities’ requirements.
- Committed: We see your project through and keep to agreed deadlines, whatever challenges arise.
- Communication: We keep you informed throughout, in plain English.
- Reliable: We set realistic timelines and do what we say.
- No hidden fees: Our proposals are fully inclusive, so there are no surprise extras.
- Civil and structural services: We are one consultancy which means one set of coordinated drawings and one accountable team.
How we work
We recommend engaging with a civil engineering consultancy or consultant as early as possible. Here’s how we work throughout the RIBA Plan of Works:
- Stages 0 to 1: We assess project viability and provide technical guidance, working alongside your architect.
- Stages 2 to 3: We identify cost savings in the design, prevent design surprises after planning and produce initial structural framing and civils schematics.
- Stage 4: We work with architects and other consultants on the final design.
- Stage 5: We are on hand to answer queries during manufacturing and construction.
Working with dbstructural on our steel frame nursery project was an excellent experience from start to finish. Their team provided clear, practical design solutions that made the structural and drainage elements come together seamlessly. Communication was proactive, drawings were delivered on time, and their collaborative approach made coordination with our site team effortless. The end result was a well-detailed design that made the build straightforward. We’ve worked with dbstructural for many years and look forward to continuing to do so on future projects. Wayne Creamer Owner | F&W Creamer (main contractor)
Areas we cover
Nationwide
We provide structural and civil engineering services for projects across the UK. Most of the design process, from initial concept through to detailed calculations and drawings, can be carried out remotely, so the location of your project rarely limits what we can offer.
Bedfordshire
Our home county! We support developers and contractors in Bedford, Luton and Central Bedfordshire, including sites where clay soils and limited infiltration call for carefully designed attenuation solutions.
Hertfordshire
Across St Albans, Watford, Stevenage and Hertford, our team prepares drainage strategies and SuDS designs aligned with Hertfordshire County Council’s guidance as lead local flood authority.
Buckinghamshire
From Aylesbury, High Wycombe and Milton Keynes to the villages of the Chilterns, we provide drainage, external works and highways design that meets Buckinghamshire Council’s requirements.
Oxfordshire
We work on residential and commercial schemes in Oxford, Banbury, Bicester and Didcot, including sites affected by floodplain constraints along the Thames and Cherwell.
North London and Surrey
We help homeowners, architects and developers across London and surrounding counties such as Surrey. We deliver civil engineering for tight urban sites, including Thames Water connection applications and Section 184 vehicle crossovers.
Chat to our team
We would love to hear your plans, understand your challenges and engineer your dream build.
FAQs
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Usually at pre-planning or planning stage, when the council requires a drainage strategy, flood risk assessment or access design. Bringing an engineer in early avoids redesign later.
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Structural engineers design the elements that hold a building up, such as beams, columns and foundations. Civil engineers design the infrastructure around it, including drainage, roads and earthworks. We provide both.
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Yes. We regularly prepare the technical information needed to navigate drainage, flood risk and highways conditions.
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Highways design engineers specialise in a much more in depth design of a highway. They will evaluate and plan for routes, speed limits, geometric design, road safety and compliance. Whereas a civil engineer will be given a layout, speed limit etc and will design the road makeup (Depth of layers and material type in the Road) Civil will also design drainage for the highway.