Opinion

SuDS hold up “nonsensical” as Met Office predicts big increase in flash flooding

Sam Ibbott - Environmental Industries Commission

Government last week announced a further delay to the implementation of SuDS. Sam Ibbott is disappointed.

From the concern on politicians' faces as they met with beleaguered home and business owners during the flooding in early spring of this year, you might think we would now be seeing quick implementation of one of the most practical flood control measures: Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS).

But while the Prime Minister spoke of money being no object in dealing with the flooding, and MPs of all colours urged action, SuDS remain stalled with yet another delay in their implementation just announced.

SuDS aim to slow the flow of water and encourage it to seep into the ground by mimicking natural processes, rather than the more conventional practice of routing run-off through a pipe to a watercourse. SuDS would usually include a constructed arrangement of permeable surfaces allowing water through to the soil below; grassland depressions called swales that carry water off into ponds; underground storage units; wetlands; or similar methods.

"It is not entirely clear as to what issues have been raised by developers. It could be cost; delays in the planning permission process; or perhaps the land use required by SuDS. Whatever the reason, this is an opportunity missed."

Introduced under Schedule 3 of the Flood & Water Management Act (2010), implementation has been on the cards for some time - with an initial date of April 2014 later revised to October 2014. Much to the frustration of the water management companies in the Environmental Industries Commission‘s membership, the leading Government department, Defra, has, quietly, slipped out the announcement of a further delay.

There was no formal reference being made to the move on the department's website. An email was instead sent by Defra to stakeholders to inform them of the change. The email confirmed that the "Government remains committed to implementing SuDS…but not in a way that affects development” and that "it has become clear that we will not be in a position to implement Schedule 3 from October 2014." We are told that a statement will be made in “summer” which will set out further details, and that the new implementation date (whenever it may be) will be laid in Parliament six months before it comes into effect.

It is not entirely clear as to what issues have been raised by developers, given Defra’s suggestion that SuDS as currently planned would have a negative impact on new development. It could be cost; delays in the planning permission process; or perhaps the land use required by SuDS. Whatever the reason, this is an opportunity missed. With the Met Office reporting just this week that summer flash floods are likely to become more frequent across the UK as a result of climate change, it seems nonsensical to delay further.

Perhaps the biggest concern is just how long this further delay is going last. We know implementation is unlikely to be this year, and with a General Election in May 2015, it is not a great stretch to imagine that little will progress until late 2015. All the while this leaves the SuDS delivery industry in limbo, potentially jeopardising investment in vital flood mitigation.

There is no doubt a national need (and public demand) for more housing, but if the Government is concerned that SuDS are going to negatively affect development, they should remember the impact of  flooding.

Sam Ibbott, Deputy Public Affairs Director, Environmental Industries Commission (EIC). EIC is a trade body representing the UK’s environmental technologies and services sector. For more information please contact sam.ibbott@eic-uk.co.uk