Expert Witness
Water Environment's engineers and scientists have accumulated considerable experience working in diverse professional teams — with land and building surveyors, landscape architects, ecologists, hydrogeologists, geo-environmental engineers, transportation planners, and noise and vibration experts. This breadth of collaboration, combined with deep technical specialism, makes our staff well-placed to provide clear, authoritative, and independent expert evidence in formal proceedings.
Preparing and presenting evidence
We are experienced in preparing and presenting evidence in written statement format, at informal hearings, and at public inquiries. We are familiar with the procedural requirements of the Planning Inspectorate, the Civil Procedure Rules (CPR Part 35), and the requirements of instructing solicitors and counsel.
Flood Risk and Hydrology
Our technical directors have provided expert witness evidence in planning appeals, public inquiries and legal proceedings on matters including:
- The robustness of Flood Risk Assessments and the application of the sequential and exception tests
- Hydraulic model outputs, flood zone boundaries and floodplain extents
- The hydrological analysis of design flows and return period estimation
- The adequacy of flood mitigation and resilience measures proposed for developments
- Disputes over the source and cause of flooding to existing properties
Nutrient Neutrality and Designated Site Hydrology
We have provided expert evidence on nutrient neutrality methodology, the hydrological connectivity between development sites and designated water bodies, and the adequacy of nutrient mitigation proposals. This has included evidence relating to Special Areas of Conservation (SAC), Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), and the requirements of the Habitats Regulations.
Air Quality
Our qualified assessors have provided expert evidence on air quality impact assessments, including the appropriateness of the modelling methodology, the selection of sensitive receptors, and the significance of predicted impacts against national and local air quality objectives.
Sustainable Drainage and Adoptable Drainage
Our chartered engineers have given expert evidence on sustainable drainage design — including the technical adequacy of SuDS strategies, compliance with drainage hierarchies, and the achievability of proposed discharge rates — as well as disputes relating to the adoption of surface water and foul drainage infrastructure by sewerage undertakers and Lead Local Flood Authorities.
How we work
- Instruction — we agree the scope, the issues in dispute and our role, whether as a party-appointed expert or a single joint expert.
- Review and opinion — we examine the evidence and reach an independent, impartial opinion within our area of expertise, regardless of who is instructing us.
- Expert report — we prepare a clear, well-evidenced report that complies with CPR Part 35 and the requirements of the relevant tribunal or inquiry.
- Hearings and inquiries — where required, we present and defend our evidence at informal hearings and public inquiries, and engage in experts' discussions to narrow the issues.
Why Water Environment?
Our directors have a combined 40+ years of specialist experience and have given expert evidence in planning appeals, public inquiries and legal proceedings. We understand that the duty of an expert is to the tribunal, not the instructing party, and our evidence is independent, impartial and grounded in the same technical rigour we apply to every assessment we produce.
We are members of the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM) and hold professional qualifications with the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE).