CCTV Drain Survey in Solihull

Solihull borough contains some of the most varied drainage stock in the West Midlands. The contrast between the post-war pitch fibre drainage of Chelmsley Wood and the clay-piped Edwardian avenues of Olton — separated by only a few miles — means that what a CCTV camera finds in one street can be completely different from the property next door. That local knowledge matters when you are choosing a drainage engineer.

Pitch Fibre Drainage in Chelmsley Wood

Chelmsley Wood was developed rapidly from the late 1950s onwards as Birmingham Corporation sought to rehouse families from inner-city slum clearances. Speed of construction meant pitch fibre drainage was used almost universally — it was cheap, easy to cut and join on site, and required no bedding concrete. The problem is that pitch fibre absorbs water over decades, softening and deforming from a circular bore into an oval or hour-glass shape.

As of 2026, the original pitch fibre installations in Chelmsley Wood are between 55 and 70 years old — well past the 30 to 50 year design life these pipes were given. A CCTV survey reveals whether the pipe has deformed to the point where flow is restricted, and whether the material is still structurally sound enough for a no-dig resin lining or whether sections need replacing. Attempting to jet deformed pitch fibre without first surveying it risks splitting the pipe entirely.

Root Ingress in Shirley and Olton

The established residential streets of Shirley and Olton were largely developed between the 1930s and 1960s. Garden trees planted by original owners are now mature, with root systems that extend well beyond the garden boundary and directly above — or through — the original clay drain runs. Even a hairline crack in a clay joint is enough for fine root tendrils to enter. Once inside, roots grow rapidly toward moisture and nutrients, forming dense masses that restrict flow and eventually fracture the pipe wall.

Our CCTV cameras show root ingress clearly — from the first fine hair roots entering at a joint to a full root mass blocking the bore. The footage is timestamped and distance-measured, so repair crews know exactly where to cut or reline without unnecessary excavation.

Executive Properties in Knowle and Dorridge

Knowle and Dorridge sit at the southern end of Solihull and contain a high proportion of detached properties built from the 1960s through to the 2000s on larger plots. Drainage layouts are often more complex than standard suburban terraces — multiple buildings served by branching drain networks, large paved driveways creating significant surface water loading, and outbuildings with separate connections.

Ground conditions in this part of Solihull can also be challenging. Properties on the Keuper Marl (a local variant of Mercia Mudstone) experience seasonal shrink-swell movement that progressively displaces drain joints. On many executive homes, the drainage was installed decades ago by builders working to minimum standards, and no record of the layout was ever provided to the owner. A CCTV survey produces a measured record of the network that is useful both for maintenance planning and for any future building works.

Commercial and Event Venue Drainage Near the NEC

The National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham Airport, and the surrounding logistics and hospitality corridor in B40 generate some of the most demanding drainage requirements in the region. High footfall event venues, hotel complexes, and airport terminals all need drainage systems that can handle peak loads without failure. A blockage or collapsed drain during a major exhibition or event causes significant operational and reputational damage.

We carry out planned inspection surveys for commercial premises across this corridor using crawler units capable of inspecting larger-diameter pipes — 150mm to 300mm and above. Surveys can be scheduled outside business hours or during low-occupancy periods.

Frequently Asked Questions