Last month saw the announcement that Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) will become mandatory on residential developments. This is good news for the environment as not only do these features reduce flood risk but they also provide crucial biodiversity benefits.
What are SuDS?
Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) are designed to mimic natural drainage, helping to manage stormwater and reduce flood risks. Where residential developments often cover permeable surfaces like grassland and soil, additional measures are required to mitigate the risks associated with heavy rainfall and this is where SuDS come in often in the form of balancing / attenuation ponds and permeable paving.
What are the benefits of SuDS
One of the most important benefits of SuDS is that they reduce the risk of flooding in urban areas. They aim to slow down the flow of water, allowing it to soak in the ground.
SuDS also have multiple benefits for wildlife. Traditional drainage can reduce the amount of water for plants and animals whilst also allowing pollutants to enter waterways. SuDS can help to increase the amount of water and suitable habitats for wildlife. Successful Sustainable Drainage Systems can provide food, shelter, and breeding opportunities for wildlife including birds and bats plus a range of amphibians and invertebrates.
By creating green spaces and encouraging the growth of plants, SuDS can also help cool urban areas and remove pollutants from the air.
Yes, Meadfleet look after over 250 different SuDS across the 340+ developments we manage in England and Wales. Our team follow guidance to ensure the features function effectively whilst also maximising their biodiversity potential.
For further information:
https://www.susdrain.org/delivering-suds/using-suds/benefits-of-suds/SuDS-benefits.html
About Meadfleet
Meadfleet are a leading sustainable land-adopting management company. We have in-house ecologists with expertise in the BNG metric and are already applying the principles of Biodiversity Net Gain across our existing open space portfolio in England and Wales. Established in 1995, Meadfleet manage over 330 developments and 42,000 residential properties in our portfolio, with a strong balance sheet.
Meadfleet offers management of Biodiversity Net Gain delivery both on a managed development and on offsite areas, either via customer contributions or commuted sums. Our adoption model relieves developers of ongoing liabilities and management costs.
The Meadfleet model removes onerous liabilities from homeowners yet still encourages their input and engagement into the management of their local environment. We are committed to providing an excellent service to residents as demonstrated by our Excellent rating on Trustpilot and are members of The Property Ombudsman Scheme (TPOS), offering customers free, independent redress should they feel it is required. We are happy to work with residents groups and positively encourage the creation of these on the developments we are involved with. We believe this opens an effective two-way dialogue between homeowners and ourselves.
As a land-adopting management company, Meadfleet take long-term responsibility of open space, building customer and community relations and implementing perpetual management and improvement plans. We take a holistic and independent approach to managing areas of open space for the benefit of all residents, biodiversity and the wider environment.