The Welsh Assembly has launched a newconsultation on its proposed interim non-statutory standards for Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) in Wales.

The interim standards for SuDS in Wales cover the design, construction, operation and maintainance of surface water drainage systems.

The Flood and Water Management Act 2010 (Schedule 3) which has not been commenced, requires new developments to include SuDS features that comply with national standards. The Welsh Government is proposing to publish interim national standards on an advisory basis until such time as it determines the most effective way of embedding SuDS principles in new developments in the longer term.

The Welsh Government take the view that it is vital that adoption and management arrangements for SuDS infrastructure and all drainage elements are agreed with the local authority or sewerage undertaker at the planning stage to ensure that SuDS infrastructure is properly maintained and functions effectively for its design life.

This will enable designers, property developers, local authorities and other interested parties to both demonstrate that they have taken account of the Welsh Government’s planning advice on Development and Flood Risk and to pilot the standards, so that if necessary they can be revised before being placed on a statutory footing.

Failure to gain agreement on SuDS at planning stage is poor practice 

Commenting in its introduction to the consultation, the Welsh Government said:

“Failure to do this is, in our view, poor practice due to the risk of the drainage system not being adopted, and the consequent risk of poor performance or drainage failure due to inadequate maintenance.”

The Welsh Government has flagged up a number of key benefits that well designed, easy to maintain SuDS SuDS can deliver for the local environment, the development and local communities- they can:

• contribute to the delivery of Water Framework Directive and Local Flood Risk Management objectives;
• add social, economic and environmental value by improving the quality of urban design, adding enhanced amenity space and providing habitats and wildlife corridors;
• help strengthen communities, providing a focus for environmental education and public engagement in environmental protection close to home;
• help improve the adaptability of the drainage system to development pressures; and
• support development resilience to climate change.
• Surface based sustainable drainage components are visible in their operation and performance and are generally simpler and easier to operate, monitor and maintain. These requirements can be undertaken alongside routine landscape management operations for any site.

Deadline for responses to the consultation is 30^th April – click here to access the consultation document.