SUDS Event 18th November

Moore Environment staff attended Landscape Institute Midlands branch SUDS event – 18^th November 2010 School of Art, Birmingham Institute of Art & Design
Birmingham City University, Margaret Street, Birmingham, B3 3BX

The presentation covered the requirements for Flood Risk Assessment according to PPS 25 as well as exploring the different forms of SuDS promoted on the market.

The theory

The speakers Luke Strickland (Gifford), Dr. Susanne Charlesworth (Coventry University) and Richard Averley (Sustainable Drainage Systems) introduced the topic of Sustainable Urban Drainage, or as described by Dr. Susanne Charlesworth ‘Sustainable Drainage’ which should not just be limited to urban areas but applied to rural situations as well. 

They explained the theory of Sustainable Drainage as a system aimed at replicating natural systems in collecting, storing and cleaning surface water runoff before releasing it slowly back into the environment. 

A top down approach

When applying SUDs to a development it was stressed that a holistic approach was needed.  SUD systems can consist of:

green or brown roof – wetlands – swales – ponds  

 

Brown Roof at West Midlands Fire and Rescue HQ - Birmingham

 

 

Wetlands at Hodnet Shropshire

The benefits

The speakers highlighted the benefits of sustainable drainage systems in preventing flooding, now a frequent occurrence in this country, highlighted by recent events in Cornwall. The Flood and Water Management Act was then discussed, currently being produced by DEFRA, which is expected to come into force in April 2011.  The Act will create clearer roles and responsibilities for local authorities in managing local flood risk (from surface water, ground water and ordinary watercourses) and a strategic overview role for all flood risk for the Environment Agency.

The Practice

 

Moore Environment has been involved with projects incorporating Sustainable Drainage as a key issue since the start of the company in 1996, and a number of examples can be seen on our projects page at http://www.moore-environment.co.uk/  

Excellent guidance and design advice can be found in Highways Agency Design Manual for Roads and Bridges Volume 4 at http://www.standardsforhighways.co.uk/dmrb/vol4/section2.htm