Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS)
Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS)
SuDS manage rainfall from hard surfaces and mimic the natural drainage of a site before development and can help reduce flood risk. They can be used on any site.
Lead local authority as a statutory consultee
Northumberland County Council, as the lead local flood authority, is a statutory consultee within the planning process as laid out in the government's statutory instrument. (PDF)
The consultation requirement is to schedule 4 of the development management procedure order.
Part (ze) of schedule 4 requires Northumberland County Council to be a statutory consultee for any 'major development with surface water drainage'.
Major development will be:
- residential development: 10 dwellings or more of residential development with a site area of 0.5 hectares or more, where the number of dwellings is not yet known
- non-residential development: provision of a building or buildings where the total floor space to be created is 1000 metre squared or more, or where the floor area is not yet known, a site area of one hectare or more. Therefore, any major development that is submitted will require a drainage statement or an extended section within its flood risk assessment looking at the disposal of surface water from the development
Use of SuDS in developments and Local Standards
National planning policy requires that when local planning authorities (LPAs) evaluate planning applications, they should ensure that flood risk is not increased in other areas.
To address surface water drainage issues in developments and to alleviate pressure on the sewerage system, Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) are typically the preferred approach, as they mimic natural drainage processes.
The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government laid a written ministerial statement in the House of Commons on 18 December 2014, setting out changes to planning that will apply to major developments from 6 April 2015.
The changes will strengthen existing planning policy to ensure SuDS will be provided in new major developments where appropriate. The planning practice guidance has been updated to reflect these changes and non-statutory technical standards for the design, maintenance, and operation of sustainable drainage systems have been published online.
Therefore, any new development submitted to Northumberland County Council will need to incorporate SuDS within its design. Any submitted scheme will need to adhere to national and local (PDF) standards.
The 7 North East LLFAs have agreed on regional drainage standards to ensure consistency when reviewing planning applications within the North East region. We have developed 22 standards and a proforma that offers additional guidance when producing drainage statements and flood risk assessments to support planning applications. See the standards document and checklist.
North East LLFA sustainable drainage local standards document (PDF)
North East LLFA sustainable drainage local standards check list (EXCEL)
Environment Agency as a statutory consultee
For any development that is within flood zones 2 or 3, or within 20 metres of a main river, the Environment Agency is a statutory consultee. Check the Flood Risk Planning Map.
Further information about the Environment Agency's role in the planning process.
Legislation
- NPPF 14. Meeting the challenge of climate change, flooding and coastal change
- Sustainable drainage systems: non-statutory technical standards
- Planning Practice Guidance: Flood risk and coastal change
- NE LLFA Local Standards (PDF)
Further information
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