14 SAVVY WITH SUDS
Samantha Hursey of Meadfl eet Open Space Management discusses the practicalities of maintaining SuDS and how they can bring amenity to new housing developments.
Samantha Hursey, operations director, Meadfl eet
S
ustainable Drainage Systems or SuDS, not only play a key role on residential developments in mitigating the risks of
ooding, but they also offer ecological and amenity value. Ideally, they will be maintained to maximise all three benefi ts, making them a key feature in new residential schemes.
WHAT ARE SUDS?
SuDS mitigate the impact of new developments on local drainage to reduce the risk of ooding. They also help improve water quality and support biodiversity. SuDS simulate natural drainage to manage the risks of ooding and pollution caused by urban surface runoff. Wherever possible they should also provide environmental enhancements and contribute to the amenity value of an area. Examples of common SuDS features include attenuation ponds, also known as balancing ponds, which are designed to hold water and slow down the ow of stormwater runoff particularly during periods of heavy rain. Swales are another frequently used mechanism on a housing development to help control urban runoff. They are shallow channels with gentle slopes that collect and move water. Swales also assist in the improvement of water quality by removing pollutants
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through infi ltration.
Another example is permeable paving which can be used on roadways, drives and patios and can often drain double their surface area, allowing for more water to be stored and infi ltrated, preventing it from directly reaching a watercourse. Permeable paving is benefi cial in that it does not require any additional space and serves a dual function while being easy to maintain.
WHY ARE SUDS IMPORTANT? With increasing extreme weather events and the likelihood of warmer and wetter weather in the coming years, it is vital that housing developments do not place added pressure on existing drainage systems. SuDS provide a solution to mitigate ooding and reduce water pollution, and it is likely that they will become a compulsory feature on all new developments.
Not only do sustainable drainage systems provide practical solutions to mitigate ooding, they also offer other benefi ts as previously mentioned including biodiversity enhancement, another key focus of the housebuilding industry with the introduction of Biodiversity Net Gain legislation earlier this year.
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