The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has launched a new consultation setting out its plans to change the current planning system to increase sustainable drainage systems in England.
The consultation sets out an alternative approach to the one envisaged in Flood and Water Management Act 2010 to deliver effective sustainable drainage systems that will be maintained for the lifetime of the developments they serve.
The independent Pitt Review into the causes of the 2007 floods concluded sustainable drainage systems (commonly known as SuDS) were an effective way to reduce the risk of ‘flash-flooding’ which occurs when rainwater rapidly flows into the public sewerage and drainage system, causing overloading and back-up of water to the surface. Typically, sustainable drainage systems slow the rate of surface water run-off and improve infiltration, thus mimicking natural drainage in both rural and urban areas.
Following the Pitt Review, proposals to increase the uptake of sustainable drainage systems in new developments were included in the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 - the Government consulted on the proposals back in 2012.
In response, the Government now wants to consult on delivering sustainable drainage systems through changes to the current planning regime.
Around 2.8 million people in England and Wales are at risk from surface water flooding – which happens when rainfall doesn’t soak into the ground, but flows rapidly into the sewer system instead. This can lead to flooding. The worst effects are often in built-up areas where much of the ground is covered with non-porous materials such as concrete.
Defra is now planning to increase the use of sustainable drainage systems (commonly known as SuDS) to reduce surface water flooding. Sustainable drainage systems help by slowing the rate at which areas flood and by reducing the amount of surface water entering sewers.
Examples of sustainable drainage systems include using surfaces such as gravel or permeable (porous) paving blocks to allow water to soak into the ground and using basins or ponds to reduce the amount of water that flows away.
The Department is now seeking views on proposals to increase the number of sustainable drainage systems in England. Responses must be received by 24 October 2014.
Click here to access the consultation documents.
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