Schedule 3: The key to implementing successful SuDS
Following the decision by government to implement Schedule 3 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010, making sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) mandatory in new developments, the next step is to look at what skills and training are needed for successful SuDS delivery as part of the final scoping process before implementation.
Successful implementation of high-quality SuDS will depend on professionals having the skills and knowledge to design, construct, approve and maintain SuDS. To do this local authorities and developers will need to access expertise in SuDS delivery, covering flood risk management, water quality, biodiversity, and amenity.
For well-integrated SuDS, knowledge and skills need to be applied early in the design process. The different organisations and professions involved .i.e developers, local authorities, engineers and landscape architects are often fragmented and offer little opportunity to effectively manage water in a holistic or integrated way. The key for successful SuDS implementation will be uniting the design process with a diversity of skills and expertise from the outset which unlocks exciting opportunities.
Disciplines such as landscape architects and ecologists are not typically brought into discussions on developments early enough, which can make attractive SuDS delivery an afterthought and often reduces their quality. A strong, shared vision is required early from developers, their practitioners and local authorities.
Involving multi-disciplinary teams that move away from end of pipe solutions and towards better integration of SuDS features in the natural landscape provides greatest opportunities for long-lasting multiple benefits. Understanding the value of and informing good inspection, standards, and guidelines during and after construction will be crucial to long term success.
SuDS is about delivering attractive features that adapt to the local climate and manage surface water. Developers are interested in selling houses, they have concerns about land-take, but there is also value in delivering attractive developments. This is best achieved by incorporating landscape design into the development process early and making the best use of space. Effectively engaging and using diverse disciplines in the initial stages of design will be a pivotal way to implement high quality SuDS that comply with Schedule 3.
Combining different disciplines provide an opportunity for a vision for development to be created, setting a template to bring in the appropriate expertise which can inform the best delivery. Enabling Water Smart Communities is bringing together many different sectors and partners with the vision of whole-life water stewardship, supporting communities and the environment to thrive.
A project led by WSP, and supported by CIWEM and CIRIA, on behalf of Defra is aiming to assess the current extent of SuDS knowledge and skills across potential approving bodies and the construction sector in England; understand the skills and knowledge needed to successfully implement Schedule 3, and finally to suggest the training, upskilling, human and financial resources needed to bridge any gaps. If you are involved with the delivery of SuDS and wish to take part in a survey – follow this link.
The survey closes on 20th March 2023.
