Introduction
Following a recent government announcement, all major developments are now expected to incorporate Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS), unless these can be shown to be inappropriate. Local Planning Authorities are responsible for ensuring proposals comply with this requirement now incorporated in the National Planning Policy Framework – and conform to appropriate SuDS standards. They will also need to ensure local planning policy reflects this revised approach to drainage. To support this increased focus on SuDS, Lead Local Flood Authorities (LLFAs) have been made statutory consultees for surface water drainage proposals on major developments and will have to work more closely with Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) in ensuring the SuDS proposals adequately manage local flood risk and deliver other important benefits.
This increased focus on promoting SuDS through planning creates new opportunities and challenges for local authorities. Officers within LPAs, LLFA teams, highways and open space services will need to develop a good understanding of SuDS and how they can be incorporated within developments in order to deliver the best possible schemes for the local area. Where Local Authorities are coordinated and innovative in implementing the new policy, they will ensure new developments play an active role in reducing flood risk and improving water quality, while creating attractive, multi-functional landscapes for residents and wildlife to enjoy.
In partnership with CIRIA, Ruth Newton and Bob Bray are offering support through a facilitation day to work alongside planners, LLFA officers and other teams within Local Authorities who are getting to grips with new SuDS requirements. This will help Local Authorities bring the right stakeholders together, develop appropriate processes, skills and standards to ensure they get the greatest local benefit from the new legislation.
Who should attend?
The day can involve the relevant stakeholders in your local area, bringing together key audiences across different organisations and functions to develop a shared approach to SuDS:
- Local Planning Authorities (one or several across a county area)
- Lead Local Flood Authority teams
- Highways Authority, open space and drainage officers
- Other stakeholders such as relevant officers, elected members, sewerage undertakers and developers
How can facilitation help?
Ruth and Bob bring extensive knowledge of supporting Local Authorities, through their combined experience of working in both public and private sectors on the design, evaluation, approval and maintenance of SuDS schemes. The facilitation day:
- provides an overview of SuDS, including key components and case studies
- summarises new planning policy and guidance around SuDS
- engages delegates in discussion about the implications, opportunities and constraints of the new approach, to develop a shared vision of SuDS within your local area
- considers the best approaches for the maintenance of SuDS
- provides an opportunity for attendees to apply new policy in practice, appraising SuDS proposals in case study developments
- supports development of an action plan for implementing new policy.
Booking details
This facilitation day is now being offered to
Local Authorities as an in-house workshop . To book, please
contact Nipa
Patel who will be able to give you further details, provide a quote or book
an in-house workshop for your organisation.