Designing for Better Places

Water-sensitive design and civil engineering for sustainable development.

A peaceful park with a small stream running through it, surrounded by lush green trees and flowering bushes, with a walking path and benches, under a setting sun. This park uses SUDS design to keep it's beauty whilst supporting functioning drainage

We are a civil and stormwater engineering consultancy specialising in drainage design, flood risk assessment and public realm projects. We work closely with architects, developers and design teams across the UK and Ireland, helping to deliver attractive, practical and buildable schemes.

Our Expertise

Where we work

With bases in both Kent and Northern Ireland, we support projects right across the UK and Ireland.

Urban park scene with bioretention treepit example.

Consulting Services

Flood Risk & Drainage Strategy

We provide flood risk and drainage strategies to support planning applications and inform early-stage site design. Our focus is on clear, compliant solutions that satisfy planning authorities and set projects up for detailed design.

  • Flood Risk Assessment (FRA)

  • Drainage Strategy Reports for planning

  • SuDS strategy and concept design

  • Hydraulic modelling and constraint mapping

  • Pre-application and planning authority consultation

A peaceful residential neighborhood with a tension basin through it, surrounded by green grass, trees, and houses. Overcast sky.

Drainage and Utility Design

We deliver detailed drainage and utilities design for construction and adoption. Our work translates planning-stage strategies into fully coordinated, buildable engineering solutions.

  • Foul and surface water drainage design

  • Detailed SuDS design and calculations

  • Utility coordination and diversion layouts

  • Connection design to public networks

  • Construction drawings and specifications

  • Design for adoption

A close-up view of a rain drainage grate along a paved sidewalk next to a landscaped garden bed with green plants and purple flowers, wet from recent rain.

Civil & Infrastructure Design

We provide civil engineering design for site development, access and external works. Our designs are practical, coordinated and suitable for construction and adoption processes.

  • Road and access design (Section 38 / Section 278)

  • Sewer adoption and connections (Section 104 / Section 106)

  • Site levels, earthworks and grading

  • Cut/fill balance and site coordination

  • External works and interface design

  • Private Streets Determination (PSD) for Northern Ireland

Planning Support & Technical Advisory

We support planning applications with clear, robust technical input across drainage, flood risk and civil engineering. We work closely with design teams to help secure approvals efficiently.

  • Technical inputs for planning submissions

  • S106 drainage and infrastructure support

  • Pre-application and site feasibility advice

  • Pre-Development Enquiries, sewer requisitions and impact assessments (NI Water and UK utilities)

  • Liaison with local authorities and statutory bodies

  • Coordination with multi-disciplinary design teams

Architectural plans and blueprints spread on a wooden desk with a pen, black binder, and a stack of documents, with a window and plants in the background.

Our Story

Andy founded Hughes Civil with a belief that good engineering can make a real difference to the places we live in.

As a Chartered Civil Engineer with over a decade of experience delivering projects across the UK, Ireland, Australia, China and East Africa, he has worked on everything from residential developments and public realm upgrades to highways and complex water management schemes. He has a particular interest in sustainable drainage, water-sensitive urban design and the role good engineering can play in shaping greener, more liveable places.

Andy enjoys working closely with architects, homeowners and developers to solve technical challenges clearly and practically, helping projects move forward with pace and confidence while protecting the original vision.

Let’s Keep In Touch

Every project starts with a conversation. Get in touch and let's talk through what you need.