PAVING FOR RAIN –
MANDATORY SUDS FOR WALES
New legal requirements for National Planning Policy Framework m2. Provided appropriate statutory
Sustainable Drainage System (SuDS) requires sustainable drainage on new National SuDS Standards are met,
rainwater drainage on developments developments of 10 or more dwellings the SAB will be required to adopt and
across Wales apply from 7th January, (and similar scale commercial maintain approved SuDS that serve
heralding wider use of concrete developments). However, the Welsh more than one property.
block permeable paving. Meanwhile, Government has just implemented the trade association Interpave Schedule 3 of the Act, which relates to Mimicking Natural Drainage
has published the new Edition 7 provisions for SuDS. The Welsh National Standards
point out that: “The SuDS approach
of its definitive guidance to this
essential SuDS technique – ‘Design These include the establishment of a
and Construction of Concrete Block SuDS Approving Body (SAB) to be set
Permeable Pavements’ – now available up within each local/unitary authority,
to download from www.paving.org.uk. alongside its lead local flood authority
duty. SAB approval will be required
It’s over 3 years since the before construction of drainage
Government chose to abandon systems can commence on new and
dedicated requirements for SuDS redeveloped sites. The requirement for
on new developments in England SAB approval will not apply to single
using the 2010 Flood and Water dwellings and developments with a
Management Act. Instead, the construction area of less than 100
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Landscape & Urban Design Issue 36 2019
mimics natural drainage, managing
surface runoff at or close to the
surface and as close to its source as
practicable, controlling the flow …
and providing a range of additional
benefits. It contrasts with traditional
drainage techniques, which are based
on underground pipes to convey
rainwater away from properties as
quickly as possible. Surface based
sustainable drainage components…