CCTV Survey of retail park, Guildford
A large retail park near Guildford was about to undergo a major renovation, which included expanding the parking facilities, updating some of the older buildings, and modernising the infrastructure to support future tenants. The renovation was expected to transform the site, making it even more attractive to retailers and customers alike.
Mark Harrison, the retail park’s development manager, was responsible for overseeing the renovation project. The stakes were high—the renovation had to go smoothly to avoid delays, budget overruns, or unforeseen complications that could affect the retailers or customers. One critical aspect of the renovation was ensuring that the drainage system, which had been in place for decades, was fit for purpose and wouldn’t cause issues during or after construction.
Mark knew that any renovation project of this scale required a thorough investigation of the existing infrastructure, especially the drainage system. If the drainage pipes were damaged or blocked, it could lead to costly setbacks during construction or worse, cause flooding or water damage once the new facilities were in place. With this in mind, he decided to hire Your Drain Experts, because we specialised in CCTV drain surveys and had extensive experience working on commercial projects like his.
Having previously worked with Your Drain Experts on a smaller site, Mark was confident they could handle the job. He knew they were efficient, reliable, and capable of uncovering hidden drainage issues before they became major problems. Given the age of the drainage system at Guildford Retail Park, Mark suspected there could be underlying problems that had gone unnoticed over the years, and he wanted to address any potential issues before construction began.
Our team quickly responded to Mark’s request and scheduled a CCTV drain survey for the following week. The technicians explained to Mark that the CCTV drain survey would allow them to examine the entire drainage network beneath the retail park. Using a high-resolution camera, they could inspect every inch of the pipes, looking for blockages, cracks, collapses, or any signs of wear and tear that could compromise the system during or after the renovation.
The survey began early in the morning to avoid disrupting the retailers and their customers. The Your Drain Experts team arrived with their state-of-the-art CCTV equipment and started the inspection by accessing the drainage system through various manholes located around the retail park. As the camera travelled through the underground pipes, it provided real-time footage of the internal condition of the drainage system, which Mark could watch on a monitor alongside the technicians.
The footage quickly revealed a number of issues that needed to be addressed before the renovation could proceed. In some areas, the pipes were heavily encrusted with debris and silt, which had likely built up over the years due to the retail park’s high traffic and lack of recent maintenance. This buildup was significantly reducing the capacity of the drains to handle wastewater, which would be a problem once the renovation was complete and more businesses and visitors started using the facilities.
More concerning, however, was the discovery of several cracks and fractures in the older sections of the drainage system. In some areas, the pipes had shifted due to ground movement over the years, causing misalignment and creating gaps where water was leaking into the surrounding soil. These cracks and leaks were serious, as they could lead to larger collapses if left unchecked, potentially causing flooding or damage to the new construction.
After completing the survey, the technicians reviewed the footage with Mark and provided him with a detailed report outlining the condition of the drainage system. They recommended several key actions to ensure the drainage system would be able to handle the increased demand after the renovation. First, they suggested a thorough cleaning of the entire drainage network using high-pressure water jetting to remove the debris, silt, and buildup that was restricting the flow of water. Second, they recommended repairing the cracked and misaligned pipes using a no-dig drain relining technique. This would reinforce the damaged sections and seal any leaks, ensuring the pipes were strong enough to handle the increased capacity without the need for costly excavation.
Mark was impressed by the thoroughness of the inspection and the clear recommendations provided by our team. Understanding the importance of having a fully functioning drainage system before the renovation began, he gave the green light for the necessary repairs and cleaning.
Our team at Your Drain Experts along with our partners at Pitstop Drainage, returned the following week to carry out the work. They used high-pressure water jetting to clear the debris and silt from the drainage pipes, restoring the system to its full capacity. The no-dig drain relining process was then used to repair the cracks and misaligned sections of the pipes. This involved inserting a flexible liner into the damaged pipes, which was then inflated and hardened to form a durable, watertight seal. The entire process was completed without the need for excavation, minimising disruption to the retail park and keeping the renovation project on schedule.
Once the repairs were complete, Mark received a full report from Your Drain Experts, including before-and-after footage of the drainage system. The report showed that the drainage system was now in excellent condition, fully capable of handling the increased demand that would come with the renovation and expansion of the retail park.
With the drainage issues resolved, the renovation project proceeded without a hitch. Thanks to the proactive steps taken by Mark and the thorough work of Your Drain Experts, the retail park was well-prepared for its transformation, with no risk of future drainage problems affecting the new development.
Reflecting on the process, Mark said, “The renovation of Guildford Retail Park was a huge project, and the last thing we could afford was an unexpected drainage issue that would delay construction. Your Drain Experts came in and conducted a thorough CCTV drain survey that uncovered several problems we didn’t even know we had. They cleaned the system and repaired the damaged pipes quickly and efficiently, allowing us to move forward with the renovation with confidence. Their professionalism and expertise saved us from potential headaches down the line, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them.”
