Esher Drainage and Surfacing
Client: Esher Place Residents Ltd
Budget: £470,000
Department: Highways and Engineering (Infrastructure Solutions)
Completed: October 2025
Summary
ODS Highways was appointed by Esher Resident Ltd to deliver a programme of drainage improvements across a residential estate, with the opportunity to extend the scope to include full carriageway resurfacing works. The scheme addressed long-standing surface water issues while improving ride quality and delivering cost efficiencies through careful planning and value engineering.
Requirements
Key requirements included:
Installation of additional drainage connections into existing chambers.
Construction of a new ACO channel drain and French drain system.
Delivery of four new drainage intervention areas across the estate.
Full resurfacing of the estate roads, including Esher Place Avenue and adjoining side roads.
Coordination of drainage and surfacing works to minimise disruption to residents.
Challenges
Underground Services: Existing underground services were directly in line with proposed drainage runs, constraining levels and requiring careful coordination.
Variable Road Construction: The estate comprised several different road build-ups with localised soft spots. This required extensive investigation, including 22 core samples, to determine the most appropriate resurfacing solution.
Level Constraints: Existing carriageway levels and driveway thresholds to individual properties limited available tolerances for drainage falls and surfacing build-up.
Solutions
Drainage designs were modified to suit existing service constraints and level requirements while still meeting the client’s performance expectations.
To address the variable road construction, targeted investigations informed a tailored resurfacing approach. Existing surfacing was planed off to an average depth of 50mm, with low areas regulated and ironwork raised or adjusted where required.
In selected areas, planing depths were reduced below the original proposal, allowing cost savings to be achieved without compromising surface quality or longevity. This value-engineered approach maintained a high-quality finish while reducing overall expenditure.
Results
The completed works have significantly improved surface water drainage across the estate, reducing pooling and runoff issues. The resurfaced carriageways have delivered a smoother, higher-quality ride for residents, with new traffic calming measures installed concurrently to enhance safety.
Through careful design development and value engineering, ODS Highways achieved measurable cost savings for the client while maintaining performance, quality, and visual standards.
Client Testimonial
"ODS carried out the work in a professional, safe and obliging manner, giving a high-quality result and winning numerous plaudits from residents.
I have no hesitation in recommending ODS for similar projects."
Les Hewett, Project Manager
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