---
title: "Highways & Drainage"
url: "https://www.systra.com/uk/services/development-infrastructure/highways-and-drainage/"
type: services
date_published: 2023-06-22
date_modified: 2026-05-11
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language: en-GB
word_count: 1210
reading_time: 7 min
canonical: "https://www.systra.com/uk/services/development-infrastructure/highways-and-drainage/"
featured_image: "https://www.systra.com/uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2023/06/highways-and-drainage-website-header.jpg"
type-service:
  - "Development & Infrastructure"
---

# Highways & Drainage

![Highways & Drainage](https://www.systra.com/uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2023/06/highways-and-drainage-website-header.jpg)

**The dedicated highways specialists at SYSTRA have wide-ranging experience of designing all types of highway and drainage system for trunk roads, local and private roads, industrial, residential and retail road networks.**

### Connecting people and places

Developing new road networks on any scale is a complex process, involving
multiple technical, engineering and regulatory considerations. New roads and
associated drainage systems are required for all types of development, from
small housing estates up to vast industrial sites with large road networks – and
everything in between. Different road construction methods, materials and
drainage systems are required for different sites, depending on traffic volumes,
topography, location and environmental conditions.

Roads and drainage systems are not always the first priority in any new
development, so schemes often need to be turned around quickly – from planning
and design through to delivery. There are huge benefits in appointing a single
consultant that can manage the entire process and navigate all regulatory,
planning and environmental approvals.

SYSTRA has expertise across multiple design, planning, engineering and project
management disciplines, including
[modern methods of construction ](https://www.systra.com/uk/services/modern-methods-of-construction/)
– enabling us to offer a complete design-to-delivery service for all highways
and drainage schemes for any type of development.

### our experience

Discover how SYSTRA has transformed ideas into deliverable strategies, for
implementing new infrastructure or making a step change in service provision.

[VIEW CASE STUDIES](https://www.systra.com/uk/our-projects/)

![strategy-3](https://www.systra.com/uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2023/05/strategy-3-1024x645.jpg)

**SYSTRA works with a wide range of government bodies, local authorities and developers to deliver highway networks and associated drainage systems on any scale.**

### Support for varied highway and drainage schemes

Our clients include private developers who need road networks for their
residential, industrial, commercial or retail developments. We support local
authorities and government bodies, who need to develop local and national road
networks. Windfarm, energy-from-waste and other energy plant developers rely on
our expertise to deliver robust access roads for their facilities. We also work
with professional partners and contractors on a whole variety of road building
projects.

### Complete design-to-delivery road solutions

Our highways and drainage services cover every element of design and delivery,
from initial feasibility studies and funding applications, through preliminary
and detailed designs before procurement and support and
administration/management of construction phases.

Delivering complete highways and drainage systems is a complex undertaking,
involving specialists from multiple disciplines at SYSTRA, providing services
such as transport planning, geotechnical surveys, structural engineering,
environmental assessments, topographical surveys, road safety audits and
landscape architecture services.

### Highway design, construction and alignment

Using leading industry software such as Civils 3D, Bentley MX (XM) Openroads,
PDS, Microdrainage (Windes) Autotrack, Signplot, and Autocad, we provide a
powerful and flexible design service to help clients gain statutory approvals –
such as S106, S38, S104 and S278 agreements, as well as Road Construction
Consents and Section 56 approvals. We also provide expertise in Traffic
Regulation Orders (TRO’s) and legislative requirements.

We are experts in highways
[modern construction methods ](https://www.systra.com/uk/services/modern-methods-of-construction/)
and the specification of materials for adoptable highways and industrial
settings. We produce road designs that use readily available and economic
materials, tailored for specific purposes.

Our designers and engineers have considerable experience in producing horizontal
and vertical alignment designs, using the latest BIM software. We produce
detailed 2D and 3D models showing existing and proposed surfaces, profiles,
cross sections, contours and isopachytes. We can provide detailed reports of
forward visibility, vehicle tracking, areas and volumes for cut-and-fill
analysis and flow path analysis for highway run-off.

![highways-and-drainage-project](https://www.systra.com/uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2023/06/highways-and-drainage-project.jpg)

### Road drainage system design and specification

Our highways specialists design surface-water systems, based on rainfall
analysis, run-off calculations and network capacity. Our designs include
allowances for climate change impacts, seasonal and location variations.

We design foul water drainage systems and industrial process water systems,
taking into account the nature of the discharge and consent limitations. We
design outfalls, interceptors and sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) to reduce
the overall impact of new road and development drainage run-off on existing
catchments and systems. Our SuDS are designed to suit land use and site
constraints, taking into account site topography, history and ground conditions.
We can provide both outline drainage strategies and detailed designs for
construction.

SYSTRA is experienced in consulting with drainage and planning authorities on
development matters, and carrying out technical submissions for formal
agreements with the sewerage authorities.

### Pavements, road signs and road markings

To provide a complete highways solution, we also design pavements for road
networks and industrial estates, as well as road signs and markings. Pavements
can be designed in a range of materials, in accordance with the Design Manual
for Roads and Bridges and British Standards. We also have experience in
designing heavy-duty concrete pavements for energy-from-waste plants and port
container terminals.

Our designs for standard and bespoke road signs and road markings are completed
in accordance with the Traffic Signs Manual. Our solutions include foundation
designs and wind loading calculations, siting limitations and clearances.

We’d love to help with your next project

[Connect with our Specialists](https://www.systra.com/uk/contact/business/)

[JOIN OUR COMMUNITY](https://www.systra.com/uk/register/join-our-community/)

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_About Us Read more sur About Us_

![l2-market-cities-and-urban-mobility-website-header](https://www.systra.com/uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2023/05/l2-market-cities-and-urban-mobility-website-header-1024x645.jpg)

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- Expert Insights

Jorgen PEDERSEN

### Delivering Sustainable Future Mobility & Transport Technologies

[ Read more ](https://www.systra.com/uk/expert_insights/delivering-sustainable-future-mobility-and-transport-technologies/)

![header-and-featured-image-vision-based-planning](https://www.systra.com/uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2024/08/header-and-featured-image-vision-based-planning-1024x645.png)

- Expert Insights

Darren KIRKMAN

### Vision-based planning

[ Read more ](https://www.systra.com/uk/expert_insights/vision-based-planning/)

![suburban-road-descarbonisation-playbook5](https://www.systra.com/uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2023/07/suburban-road-descarbonisation-playbook5-1024x645.jpg)

- Expert Insights

David CONNOLLY

### A Decarbonisation Policy Playbook to support LTP4 development

[ Read more ](https://www.systra.com/uk/expert_insights/a-decarbonisation-policy-playbook-to-support-ltp4-development/)

![](https://www.systra.com/uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2023/03/careers-1024x323.jpg)

Find out what its like to work at SYSTRA, rewards, benefits and about different
career pathways including
[apprenticeships](https://www.systra.com/uk/careers/early-careers/apprenticeships/)
and [graduate](https://www.systra.com/uk/careers/early-careers/graduates/)
opportunities.

[SEARCH CAREERS](https://www.systra.com/uk/careers/start-a-career-at-systra/)

## Check our other services

### Digital Solutions & Software Development

### Systems Approach

### Environmental Services

### Business Case, Funding & Strategy

### Programme & Project Management

### Data Science and Visualisation

### Transport Strategy

### Research, Consultation & Evaluation

### Technical Systems

### Transport Advisory