Scottish SuDS working party publishes new guidance

The new guidance is intended to help those involved in the installation of Sustainable Drainage Systems through the necessary stages to obtain planning permission and comply with standards and policies.

It is primarily intended for those involved in the design and management of water infrastructure in addition to planners, and advises on the key steps, processes and stakeholder engagement usually required before planning permission is granted.

The guidance says that “while it recognises that the basic requirement for a developer is to obtain an effective drainage system for the site, the opportunity exists for an approach which meets the demands of the developer and also gives due consideration to other fundamental aspects of the water cycle. This includes flood risk management, environmental protection and the potential for the delivery of increased biodiversity”.

The guidance goes on to point out that “as part of this, government policy advocates the use of multi-functional SuDS (Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems or Sustainable Drainage Systems) and green infrastructure. The guidance highlights how to achieve the use of these approaches”.

The SUDSWP is a multi-stakeholder group established to promote the use of sustainable drainage in Scotland.

Members of the group include:

• Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA)
• Scottish Water
• The Scottish Government
• Homes for Scotland
• Scottish Enterprise
• Society of Chief Officers for Transportation in Scotland (SCOTS)
• Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS)
• Landscape Institute Scotland (LIS)
• Heads of Planning Scotland (HOPS)

Read more and download the guidance from here.

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Note
Photo of a detention basin within Lamb Drove, Cambourne, Cambridge from the susdrain website.