Drought Preparedness in UK Development: Why a Phase 1 Desktop Study De‑Risks Your Site

Water stress and drought planning are moving up the UK agenda. For developers, the knock‑on effects are practical: changing groundwater regimes, pressure on drainage and resilience, and tighter scrutiny at planning. A Phase 1 Desktop Study is the fastest way to surface these risks early—before design commitments harden.

EnviroSolution compiles historic mapping, hydrology datasets, flood records, abstraction and discharge information, and local authority policy to build a clear risk picture. Where drought resilience matters, we pay special attention to shallow groundwater sensitivity, adjacent abstractions, and the interaction between impermeable surfacing and proposed SuDS. If the desk evidence suggests a constraint, we’ll set out proportionate next steps—targeted site reconnaissance, infiltration testing, or revisions to your drainage hierarchy.

For lenders and funders, early transparency on environmental risk is now a differentiator. Our reporting is concise, planning‑ready, and tailored to your programme and budget. Pair the desktop review with our Infiltration Testing where SuDS by infiltration is viable, and with Contaminated Land expertise where legacy uses are suspected.

Need a quick view of constraints before land bid or pre‑app? Speak to our team and secure a proportionate scope that keeps your development on track.