The increased coverage of our natural landscape with hard impervious paved areas and roofs prevents the natural dissipation of stormwater and increases both the rate and volume of stormwater run-off. Pollutants settling on impervious surfaces are swept along and discharged into treatment plants or directly into rivers and streams. All these challenges are a major concern to water companies and local authorities.
SuDS - Flood Risk Elimination
The combined effect of climate change, population growth and increasing urbanisation means that major flooding events are likely to become more frequent in the UK. The UK government is committed to building 3 million new homes by 2020 with a significant number of these houses being built on land prone to flooding.
Environmental Challenge
SuDS
The Interim Code of Practice for Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) is a set of guidelines and advice for the implementation of sustainable drainage in developments in England and Wales.
- Encourage the implementation of SuDS in new and existing developments
- Provide basic guidance for practitioners on the implementation of SuDS in new developments
- Make the adoption and maintenance for SuDS more straightforward
The Environment Agency is actively encouraging local authorities to include SuDS pervious pavements.
Planning Policy Statement 25 (PPS25)
Planning Policy Statement 25 (PPS25) sets out Government policy on development and flood risk. It aims to ensure that flood risk is taken into account at all stages in the planning process to avoid inappropriate development in areas at risk of flooding. PPS25 recommends the implementation of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) on all new development whilst the Environment Agency (EA) advises planning authorities on development and flood risk matters to steer developments away from flood risk areas and to restrict development that would increase the risk of flooding. The EA actively encourages local authorities to include pervious pavements in supplementary planning guidance on SuDS. Housebuilders are also being encouraged by both the EA and the 'Code for Sustainable Homes' to utilise SuDS pervious pavements.
Hydro conductivity test for TarmacDry
