Oliver Harvey
Senior Flood Risk Consultant | BSc MSc
I am a Senior Flood Risk Consultant at Aegaea with extensive experience in supporting developers and clients by providing flood risk and SuDS reports to ensure they achieve their aspirations for planning applications and new development across the UK. My career began in 2016, following a 1st Class MSc in Engineering in the Coastal Environment from the University of Southampton and a BSc in Environmental Hazards and Disaster Management from Kingston University. I thrive on navigating complex planning policies, including the NPPF, TAN15, and Scottish Planning Policy, to deliver technical solutions that meet national requirements while staying within client budgets.
How I Can Help You
- Technical Flood Risk Expert: I specialize in delivering Flood Risk Assessments (FRAs) and Flood Consequence Assessments (FCA’s) that address all sources of flood risk for residential, commercial, and industrial developments across the UK.
- SuDS & Drainage Strategy: Expert in developing compliant surface water management schemes to support outline and full planning permissions. I use industry-standard InfoDrainage modelling to design efficient drainage systems that satisfy local authorities, check every regulatory box, and secure your site’s future.
- Strategic Infrastructure Advice: I provide high-level flood risk advice for DCO applications, EIA sections, and optioneering studies to assist with long-term asset management.
- End-to-End Project Management: I am experienced in managing projects from initial tender and proposal through to technical delivery and final completion.
- Liaison & Negotiation: I act as a technical intermediary between clients and key stakeholders, including the Environment Agency, Lead Local Flood Authorities (LLFAs), and Water Authorities.
Expertise in Action
- Protecting Critical Infrastructure (Telecommunications): As project manager and technical lead, I assessed current and future flood risks for a national telecommunications portfolio. I provided climate change resilience guidance to move from temporary measures, like sandbags, to permanent, resilient design solutions.
- Offshore Wind Farm Support (DCO Submission): I assisted in the production of an FRA for the Dudgeon and Sheringham Shoals wind farm extension, covering onshore elements including the cable route and National Grid substation extension.
- Unique Industrial Solutions (Concrete Batching Plants): I developed surface water drainage strategies for several large industrial sites, incorporating unique solutions for on-site water reuse and specialized pollution/sediment control for aggregate storage.
- Leisure & Community Projects (BMX Track Design): I produced the surface water management plan and drainage design for a new BMX track in Bishop’s Stortford, utilizing ground-level detention basins and SuDS layouts.
- Residential Site Allocations (Greenfield Developments): I have project managed numerous residential schemes of 60-100 residential dwellings, coordinating groundwater monitoring, infiltration testing, and stakeholder meetings to secure positive planning outcomes.
- Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Site, Steyning, West Sussex: Technical lead for the production of the Flood Risk Assessment and Surface Water Drainage Strategy supporting a planning application for the construction of a new battery energy facility for both the solar array and the BESS infrastructure including the unique water storage requirements for fire suppression systems in line with the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) ‘grid scale battery energy storage system planning guidance’.
A Bit About Me
Outside of my technical role, my life still revolves around water, though usually in a much less professional capacity. During the summer, you’ll most likely find me on the golf course, where I am fully committed to thoroughly investigating every water hazard on the course (usually by hitting my ball directly into them). When I’m not actively hunting for golf balls downstream, I’m out on the water paddleboarding, or staying dry on land following football, cricket, and Formula 1.
Request your free, expert quote now
Aegaea work alongside home owners, private developers, planning consultants, architects, local authorities, international development agencies and contractors. Aegaea know exactly how to help you.