Sustainable drainage is no longer just about managing water, it’s also about creating thriving habitats. In this penultimate article of our National SuDS Standards series, we explore Standard 6 and how integrating biodiversity into SuDS design through native planting, habitat creation and naturalised landscapes can support Biodiversity Net Gain, strengthen ecological networks and help secure successful planning outcomes.
This is week five of seven in the series where we look at Defra’s new National SuDS Standards. Week 5 focuses on Amenity. SuDS are more than drainage, they’re assets that create greener, more attractive places people want to use, while delivering effective surface water management.
We have proudly provided research that will help shape the introduction of Flood Performance Certificates…
Week four of our National SuDS Standards series focuses on Water Quality and why pollution control can no longer be treated as an afterthought. Discover how Standard 4 requires a treatment train approach to improve runoff quality, reduce environmental risk, and meet planning expectations—helping you avoid costly redesigns while protecting receiving water bodies.
In the third instalment of our standards series, we explore Standard 3: Managing Extreme Rainfall & Flooding. While drainage systems may cope well under normal conditions, extreme weather events present a far greater challenge. This standard ensures developments can safely manage rainfall up to the 1-in-100-year storm event, including climate change allowances, through effective drainage design, exceedance routing, and flood resilience measures. By considering flood risk early in the design process, developers can protect people, property, and infrastructure while avoiding costly redesigns, planning objections, and future liability issues.
