Author

A.G.Stephenson

The problems surrounding how we deal with stormwater run-off and issues such as drought, flooding and water pollution have been well publicised in recent years fuelled, to great extent, by the growing consciousness of climate change. The summer floods of 2007 throughout the UK also led to the publication of several reports such as Sir Michael Pitt’s Interim Review and the more recent Flooding report from the House of Commons Environment Food and Rural Affairs Committee. DEFRA have also published Future Water, the Government’s water strategy for England and all of these documents have heightened awareness of the benefits of sustainable drainage and the contribution that can be made to reduction of flood risk. There are many methods available and approaches in the SUDS ‘toolbox’ but all too often designers are restricted to ‘soft’ or natural options or what have become known as traditional SUDS, failing to consider some of the innovative proprietary solutions that have been used for many years which have provided very robust, cost effective and reliable answers. This paper will use an interesting case study to demonstrate how these systems have been used in conjunction with traditional SUDS options resulting in a complimentary, holistic solution helping create a whole sustainable community.