Alex Stephenson ‘A brave new world for SuDS began when new planning regulations came into force last month, designed to ensure, where possible, that Sustainable Drainage Systems are used on major new developments in England. With a much-needed push for new homes underway, it ought to be a relief that more than 10 years of wrangling over legislation to make SuDS compulsory is over. But with publication of just two pages of technical standards, the rules are a mere shadow of what many had hoped for – with some going so far as to call them ‘pathetic’.
In his ministerial statement in December, Eric Pickles laid out a new regime for SuDS. Then, the publication of 14 non-statutory technical standards to guide planning authorities, designers and developers, replaced the much more detailed and prescriptive regulations drafted but never enacted as a part of the Flood and Water Management Act. After years of industry debate and consultation, the substantial and detailed draft National Standards have been cut to just two pages. The non-statutory technical standards essentially see English regulations back to ‘square one’ – not much different to the original PPS25 guidance that preceded even the recommendations of the Pitt Review – although tweaked to account for climate change. In fact, the new non-statutory technical standards contain little in themselves to make them specifically recognisable as standards for SuDS – reflecting principles of quality, quantity, amenity and biodiversity.
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