Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS)

A Sustainable Drainage System (SuDS) deals with rainfall and surface water run-off from built up areas in a more natural and sustainable way rather than discharging it straight into conventional piped systems. 

You can read more about the background to SuDS and its principles and benefits on the Susdrain website.
 

SuDS and Planning Permission

The Flood and Water Management Act 2010 introduced SuDS systems into law and requires that new developments and re-developments include sustainable surface water drainage proposals.

These drainage proposals must then be approved by West Berkshire Council as the Lead Local Flood Authority.

Our Drainage Team is the official SuDS consultee for planning applications. The Drainage Team is responsible for ensuring SuDS are used in new developments and re-developments according to the non-statutory technical standards for SuDS, and in conjunction with the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and Planning Practice Guidance.

A draft SuDS Supplementary Planning Document has been produced which will be subject to public consultation between Monday 11 June 2018 and 5pm on Monday 23 July 2018. The purpose of this document is to provide guidance on the approach that should be taken to SuDS in new developments in West Berkshire so as to manage and mitigate surface water flood risk. Details of the draft document and the consultation can be found on our Draft Sustainable Drainage Systems SPD webpage.

The Construction Industry Research and Information Association (CIRIA) provides additional information on sustainable drainage techniques in their SuDS manual.  

In the meantime, if you have questions or queries about SuDS, please contact our Drainage Team.
 

Further information

The European Union Water Framework Directive sets objectives for the protection of the aquatic environment (for drinking water quality, ecology etc) and encourages a more sustainable approach to drainage.