SuDS for Developers

The Flood and Water Management Act will have major implications for future developments. It is not a case of substituting a new technology for an old one; but of a new way of thinking about surface water management.  This can be seen as either a problem or an opportunity.  It is the aim of this breakfast meeting to break down some of the barriers to change and stimulate a feeling of optimism for proposed changes.

Presentations to include:

1) Introduction to the National Standards and implications for development; looking at this in a very practical way.

What do you do when you want to develop a site?

What will be the processes/stages before any development can take place?

Where is useful help and guidance?

Are there good case studies locally?

2)   Flood & Water Management Act 2010 and Leicester’s Surface Water Management Plan

Where is the flood risk?

The Flood and Water Management Act made the City Council responsible for leading on surface water management. They are therefore carrying out a surface water management plan to predict what areas are at risk so they can take them into account through the planning process and work up schemes to manage or reduce the risk where possible. Think your site can’t be at risk of flooding as its not near a watercourse – think again!

3) National infiltration and sub surface geology data sets

The new draft National Standards focuses on infiltration as a preferred approach to SuDS; as does current legislation (Building Regulation, Approved Document H). All new developments will therefore need to consider the installation of infiltration SuDS such as soakaways, infiltration basins or permeable pavements, before other SuDS techniques.

The British Geological Survey is  developing a national dataset that will enable preliminary assessment of the suitability of the subsurface for infiltration. This will provide a decision-making framework, guiding the user through the assessment process, providing information about the potential for drainage, but also about potential impacts to ground stability and groundwater quality. This dataset will be of enormous use both to decision makers and to potential developers looking at infiltration SuDS.