Environmental Policy

Environment Agency - SUDS policy and legislation
Government and the Environment Agencies are now promoting the use of Sustainable Drainage Systems [SUDS].

Source control is one technique that contributes to SUDS. This aims to restrict surface water run-off to a level equivalent to that of a natural green field site.

Temporary storage or infiltration
SUDS policy aims to achieve this in two ways:

• Temporary storage of excess flows, so that immediate outflow into streams and rivers is limited
• Efficient soakaways to infiltrate stormwater into the ground

With these techniques, the impact of water run-off from developed areas can be managed, and its potential contribution to flooding problems is reduced or eliminated.

Advice for developers
There is currently no specific legislation concerning sustainability in relation to drainage. However, in Planning Policy Guidance PPG 25: Development and flood risk, the Government does advise that:

• NEW DEVELOPMENT should not mean greater run-off volumes than have been applicable previously to the undeveloped site
• REDEVELOPMENT should achieve a reduction in run-off volume

This advice has also been adopted by local authority planning procedures, and has been reflected in amendments to Building Regulations Part H.

Developers are therefore advised to assess the affects of run-off from their proposed development, and to use sustainable drainage techniques to minimise it.