When you’re starting a new construction project, there’s a lot to deal with — paperwork to process, reports to prepare and authorities to liaise with. Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) are just one of those important factors to consider, and for many developments a SuDS report is required. By helping to manage surface water run-off, SuDS reduce the risk of all types of flooding, from surface water to fluvial and tidal.
Since April 2015, the Government strengthened planning policy so that Sustainable Drainage Systems must be considered at the planning stage for all major developments in England. This sits alongside the likely request from Lead Local Flood Authorities (LLFAs) — who became statutory consultees for major developments with surface water implications — to see a SuDS report and proposed drainage strategy, either at the planning application stage or before any groundwork or construction can commence.
With that in mind, we thought it would be helpful to discuss SuDS reports in more detail and explain exactly what they involve. As well as answering these common questions, we’re also sharing some points that will help ensure you receive a report of the highest possible quality, so there are no delays to your project.
The Purpose of a SuDS Report
Carried out during the planning application stage, a Sustainable Drainage System report (or SuDS report) ensures that designers and developers have properly considered the surface water run-off arising from their development proposals.
Preventing flooding both within new developments and in the surrounding area is critical. A SuDS report demonstrates that the developer has explored all the drainage possibilities through a recognised SuDS design consultancy. Because it is crucial at the planning stage of any project, it’s important to get a SuDS report done correctly — doing so gives you a much smoother planning process and helps avoid delays, obstructions and rising costs.
When Do You Need a SuDS Report?
A SuDS report may be required at various stages depending on the type of project, so it’s important to consider this early on.
One of the most common points at which a SuDS report is required is during the planning and preliminary stages of a construction project. A SuDS report helps validate the application, demonstrating that you have considered surface water management alongside any flood risk assessment and drainage strategy.
SuDS reports are also required to discharge pre-commencement planning conditions relating to surface water run-off and SuDS, and can be provided to gain valuable BREEAM credits.
If you’d like to find out whether your project requires a SuDS report, you can speak to our expert team of design consultants.
Do I Have to Have a SuDS Report?
In England, since April 2015 it has been Government policy that SuDS must be considered for all major developments — generally those of 10 or more dwellings, or equivalent non-residential or mixed-use schemes — as part of the planning application. In practice, because LLFAs are statutory consultees, a SuDS report is effectively expected for these developments, and many local authorities also request one for smaller schemes through local planning policy.
Requirements differ depending on where your project is being built. In Wales, the rules are stricter: under Schedule 3 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010, construction work with drainage implications cannot begin until the drainage system has been approved by a SuDS Approving Body (SAB). This applies to most new developments of more than one dwelling, or where the construction area is 100m² or more.
Essentially, if you want your project to run smoothly — without time, cost or paperwork delays — it’s wise to get a comprehensive SuDS report completed sooner rather than later. You can find out more about SuDS report requirements by speaking to our expert consultants.
Getting the Best SuDS Report
So, with the essentials of Sustainable Drainage Systems explained, you’ll want to know what sets one SuDS report apart from another. In this next section, we explain the approaches to creating a SuDS report and the experience consultants should have to make your report as beneficial as possible to your project.
Choose Consultants with Proven Experience
A SuDS report can be a detailed and complex process, and you want it handled as efficiently as possible. That way you have peace of mind that this important part of the planning stage is taken care of, and it also helps improve the overall efficiency of your construction project.
When looking for SuDS design consultants, it’s important to consider their years of experience in the industry. Experience goes a long way with SuDS reports and flood risk assessments: it shows the consultant has strong working relationships with Lead Local Flood Authorities, helping to streamline the process, and that they understand changes in technology and evolving planning requirements.
SuDS Design Consultants Should Set and Meet Deadlines
Deadlines are critical in all construction projects, no matter the stage — whether at planning, breaking ground or first fit. Meeting deadlines is essential and helps build strong relationships across the project team.
A SuDS consultant with repeat clients demonstrates that they consistently meet deadlines and are a team you can trust. Meeting deadlines is key, but so is responding to planners promptly. With experienced SuDS consultants, issues and queries should be dealt with quickly and efficiently, so your project can continue with minimal disruption.
At Nimbus Engineering, over 90% of our work comes from repeat clients — which goes to show that these relationships are built on trust and on providing a quality SuDS and flood risk assessment service.
The Value of Pushing Back to Flooding Authorities
There is a solution to every issue that might arise during the planning application stage, and these issues can often be avoided by working with a consultant who has genuine expertise and works regularly with Lead Local Flood Authorities UK-wide.
Quite often, a SuDS scheme that has been proposed and approved at the planning stage isn’t actually feasible on site — this can be down to anything from site constraints discovered once work has started to the topography of the site. As Civil Engineers and Environmental consultants, we don’t only propose a solution that will pass at planning; we also assess the feasibility of actually constructing that solution on site.
In this situation, it’s important to choose consultants who aren’t afraid to push back against the authorities to ensure the proposals are correct, feasible to construct and safe. Knowing that the team providing your SuDS report will see it through every stage of implementation is crucial for relationship building, project efficiency and SuDS problem-solving. This is best achieved by choosing engineers who know exactly what they are doing when it comes to SuDS.
Consider Both Civil and Environmental Experience
You might assume the priority is a consultant with an environmental engineering background. That is important — but what’s often overlooked is civil engineering experience too. Ultimately, SuDS are a civil engineering feat, and it’s important to understand whether a scheme is actually buildable from a civil perspective, not just an environmental one.
Failing to consider the civil side can lead to financial implications and time delays, which is why Nimbus Engineering prides itself on its combined civil and environmental engineering capabilities.
Sustainable Drainage System Reports
SuDS and SuDS reporting is a complex topic that we hope this guide has tackled in a digestible way. In answering common questions about SuDS and its importance to your project, we hope you’ve come away with some useful insight.
The second part of this guide highlighted key points to consider when searching for flood risk assessment and SuDS design consultants. By considering experience, engineering capabilities and relationships with the relevant authorities, you’ll be well placed for a streamlined process.
If you still have questions or queries about SuDS, SuDS reports or SuDS designs, or you’d like further consultation, don’t hesitate to reach out to our expert team.
