A new sense of optimism is in the air among long-time supporters of sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) who have battled to see their more widespread use.
Mark Manning, Business Development Manager, offers practical advice on how to interpret changes to the planning system aimed at driving forward the use of SuDS.
The government began 2018 with a New Year’s resolution embodied in its 25 Year Environment Plan to put more SuDS in place. This was followed up by confirmation of revisions to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), aimed at reinforcing the requirement for SuDS to be included in major new developments.
The environmental benefits that SuDS deliver are clear, both in terms of managing flood risk and protecting the receiving water environment from pollution. Climate change means more intense storms are likely in future and it makes perfect sense to manage rainwater sustainably, as close as possible to the place where it first falls.
