Call to extend mandatory SuDS standards to England

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has suggested introducing mandatory requirements for sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) in new developments in England.

The proposal is included in a new report into flooding and surface water drainage, which says that national advice on SuDS should be “prominent, clear and unequivocal”.

It recommends extending mandatory SuDS inclusion to developments in England to bring it inline with Welsh policy.

SuDS are designed to mimic natural drainage and filter and retain rainfall where it lands to prevent systems from becoming overwhelmed during storm events. As development and urban creep cover more permeable surfaces in built-up areas, water might be stopped from soaking into the ground.

The report calls on the Environment Agency to promote better understanding of surface water management among professional and trade bodies including best practice in design and implementation of SuDS.

The report notes that since 2018, 90 per cent of approved planning applications featured SuDS, but in general local planning authorities had no specific checks in place to see if they had been constructed as agreed.

Loopholes in current planning application processes mean that developments have gone ahead that do not follow existing guidance. The report calls for prominent, clear and unequivocal advice on the importance of SuDS in the upcoming review of the National Planning Policy Framework.

David Jenkins, author of the report, also wants clarity of responsibilities relating to drainage. Surface water flooding could be more effectively managed with a clearer understanding of responsibilities relating to construction and maintenance of drainage systems, he said.

Following a review of drainage structures, Jenkins noted that responsibility for the “aging” systems was fractured across water companies, drainage boards, local authorities, highway authorities and private businesses or individuals.

He said: “I am pleased to learn that the government is taking immediate action to address some of my recommendations, including making responsibilities clearer and ensuring a more joined up approach across the country, and that it is giving further consideration to the rest.”

The government has agreed to implement the following:

• Support Local Planning Authorities’ with appropriate expert advice on all sources of flood risk – including surface water – to make the right decisions.
• Review statutory powers and responsibilities to ensure proper inspection and maintenance of privately owned flood assets.
• Provide guidance to local authorities investigating flooding and engage better with affected communities.
• Take a long-term approach to maintain flood defences across the country through a combination of investment and action by risk management authorities, government and stakeholders.
• Assess the merits of updating current standards for SuDS
• Give guidance to local flood authorities on maintaining a register of structures that influence flood risk and take a common, comprehensive approach to inspection and maintenance.

Last month plans were revealed invest £5.2 billion in flood and coastal defences programmes from 2021.