Jack Allen

Since entering the industry in February 2022, my focus has been on finding practical pathways forward for challenging development sites. As a Consultant at Aegaea, I specialise in the vital liaison work required between developers and regulatory bodies to secure planning approvals. I use flood risk and SuDS standards as parameters to design around, translating complex hydraulic data into clear, policy-compliant drainage strategies that get schemes approved.

How I can help you

• Navigating Evolving Policy: I working closely with planning policy, national planning policy framework, strategic flood risk assessments, local plan policy and more, tracking how it evolves to keep your projects fully compliant with the latest regulations.
• Surface Water Drainage Expertise: I deliver end-to-end drainage solutions, from early-stage master planning and planning applications right through to detailed engineering design in accordance with National SuDS guidance, CIRIA and specific local plan policy to support your planning application.
• Technical Problem Solving: I have identified and worked on several complex projects that require additional communication with the client and project team to overcome flood risk and design constraints to make a planning application policy compliant.
• Strict Local Authority Liaison: In my experience, I have had to liaise with the regulators when required. To support the client and project, I have provided additional correspondence in emails ahead of planning submission, attended meetings in effort to find solutions that meet the local flood risk and drainage criteria and appeasing the Environment Agency and Lead Local Flood Authorities (LLFAs).

Expertise in action

• Constrained Urban Development (Enfield): I have facilitated several development schemes in the London Borough of Enfield, a region known for its rigorous drainage and flood risk regulations. My work involves navigating exacting local SuDS mandates and complex compensation requirements. By creating bespoke, policy-compliant mitigation plans, I consistently demonstrate to Lead Local Flood Authorities that our clients can achieve sustainable, safe development in high-scrutiny areas while maintaining project viability. For a site with significant space limitations, I designed a creative flood compensation solution by lowering the ground beneath an amenity decking area. This provided the necessary storage for displaced water without impacting the visual design of the site.
• Sewer Infrastructure Management (Lambeth): I successfully designed a foul sewer diversion for a residential extension where the existing infrastructure was located directly beneath the proposed building. My design accounted for invert levels and surface water routes, leading to successful planning permission.
• Multi-Discipline Coordination (Lingfield): For a nine-dwelling residential project, I designed a complex, multi-tanked pumped drainage system that protected existing tree root zones while managing negative site gradients. This required close coordination with landscape architects and arboriculturists.
• Property Flood Resilience (PFR) & Pre-Purchase Risk Assessments: I act as a surveyor for a diverse portfolio of Property Flood Resilience (PFR) surveys, specifically across the country (especially Leicester and Warwick). In addition to assessing existing assets for resilience measures, I regularly conduct specialist flood risk homebuyers’ reports and surveys. This work involves identifying structural vulnerabilities, analysing localised flood pathways, and providing prospective buyers or asset managers with clear, actionable advice to mitigate operational and financial risk.
• Unlocking Residential Potential (Fenwick): I managed the drainage design and planning support for a nine-dwelling residential development on a site identified by the Environment Agency (EA) as being at ‘high risk’ of surface water flooding. Recognising that national mapping can oversimplify actual risks, I worked alongside our in-house modelling team to accurately hydraulically model the flood risk on site. The detailed assessment proved that the developable area was, in reality, mostly low risk. I then integrated this bespoke model directly into my drainage design, strategically locating Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) features entirely outside of the true flood risk extents. This layout optimisation ensured that our surface water discharge was not surcharged during peak events, securing a seamless approval for the client.

A bit about me

I grew up in the North West in Northwich and now live in Liverpool. I hold a BSc (Hons) in Geography and an MSc in Water, Energy, and the Environment. I enjoyed applying my studies to my local area of Northwich assessing the potential for SuDS in the town centre.

Outside of my professional life, I am an avid outdoorsman and enjoy staying active through running, hiking, and mountain biking.