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The Interim Code of Practice for Sustainable Drainage Systems (SUDS) aims to facilitate the implementation of sustainable drainage in developments in England and Wales by providing model maintenance agreements and advice on their use. It provides a set of agreements between those public organisations with statutory or regulatory responsibilities relating to SUDS.
The specific objectives of the document are to:
Production of the Interim Code of Practice is part of a wider range of actions
being pursued to ensure that the potential of sustainable drainage systems
to offer cost-effective solutions is fully exploited. It has been developed
by the National SUDS Working Group that includes:
• Department for Communities and Local Government
• Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
• Department for Transport
• Welsh Assembly Government
•
Office of Water Services
• Water UK
• House Builders Federation
• Local Government Association
• Natural England
• Environment Agency
• Planning Officers’
Society
• CIRIA
• County Surveyors’ Society
The
planning model agreements used in conjunction with the Interim Code of Practice
are those provided by CIRIA publication C625 Model agreements for SUDS
and have been based on a detailed legislation review and consultation undertaken
during CIRIA Project RP664 Model agreements
for sustainable water management systems. The model agreements are
based on current legislation (for further details on the legislation review
please follow this link).
The aim of the model agreements is to facilitate uptake of SUDS by providing a mechanism for maintenance. The model agreements developed for use with this Interim Code of Practice achieve this through the planning process, either as a planning obligation under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 or as a condition attached to planning permission. The table below provides details of how the model agreements can be implemented.
| Reference |
Title and description |
| Planning obligation - incorporating SUDS provisions |
|
| SUDS maintenance framework agreement |
|
| Model discharge agreement |
This document provides a strategic approach to the allocation of responsibilities for the maintenance of sustainable drainage systems and refers practitioners to detailed technical guidance. Numerous organisations have undertaken research into SUDS and CIRIA have produced several SUDS guidance documents. (Click on the relevant box below to obtain additional information about the guidance documentation).
The Interim Code of Practice for SUDS is in PDF format and you will require Adobe Acrobat reader to read the document. The electronic versions of the model agreements for use in conjunction with the Code of Practice can be viewed and amended in MS Word.
DOWNLOAD: Interim Code of Practice for SUDS
DOWNLOAD: ICoP SUDS MA1 - Planning obligation incorporating SUDS provisions
DOWNLOAD: ICoP SUDS MA2 - SUDS maintenance framework agreement
DOWNLOAD: ICoP SUDS MA3 - Model discharge agreement
DOWNLOAD: Summary of preliminary runoff management for development
For hard-copies of the report please contact the Chair of the NSWG, Phil Chatfield at the Environment Agency.
The document is interim and will be a living document periodically updated to reflect any relevant changes to planning and regulatory considerations. If you have any comments you would like fed back to the National SUDS Working Group (NSWG) please complete the feedback box below. (Comments will be reviewed and considered periodically by the NSWG)
