Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SuDS) Guidance Updates

The National Standards for Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SuDS) - updated 19 June 2025.

Approaching Urban Water Management by applying these principles is good practice:

1. Managing stormwater quantity in more sustainable ways.

2. Managing the quality of stormwater.

3. Provision of open space amenity for human use in the form of recreational, educational and visual amenity.

3. Biodiversity provision and enhancement with potential to meet Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) imperatives.

Questions have been raised as to why these standards are not mandatory to ensure:

1. Further amelioration of flood risk.

2. Built-in recovery of nature.

3. Climate resilience.

4. Community health and wellbeing.

The above describes multiple benefits for people, places and nature, if a landscape-led approach to the design of SuDS is followed.

What are your views?

References:

National Standards for Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) Published 19th June 2025.

Landscape Institute Response 20th June 2025.