New SuDS Guide Aims to Slash Flood Risk for UK Homes
Engineers and surveyors at the University of Portsmouth are cooking up a game-changing guide to cut flooding in UK homes. Their secret weapon? Sustainable drainage systems, better known as SuDS.
SuDS: The Green Defence Against Floods
SuDS slow down floodwater by soaking it up in wetlands, ponds, and green spaces—rather than rushing straight into pipes and rivers. These eco-friendly solutions not only reduce flood risk but also tidy up polluted runoff and make our towns greener and nicer to live in.
Counting the Costs of Going Green
But there’s a catch. Unlike traditional piped drainage, which water companies pay for via bills, the cost and benefits of SuDS aren’t clear cut. Who foots the bill? How do you value cleaner rivers or extra green spaces on housing estates?
Dr John Williams, an environmental tech whizz from Portsmouth’s School of Civil Engineering and Surveying, is on the case. With £100,000 from the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), he’s spearheading a project to devise a toolkit that measures financial and environmental upsides of SuDS for new housing developments.
Bridging the Gap Between Green and Gold
“There’s no clear guidance on how to value sustainable drainage systems,” Dr Williams said. “Ponds, wetlands, and grassy ditches slow water flow better than pipes and create healthier urban environments and cleaner rivers.”
He adds the big question: “Will buyers cough up more for homes near green spaces and ponds? The government recently dropped flood-related rules, making adoption of SuDS even murkier.”
Team Effort to Tackle Flooding
Dr Williams and his team are collaborating with big players including the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, Hampshire County Council, Southern Water, First Wessex, Atkins Global, the Environment Agency, and Defra.
Together, they’ll crunch the numbers on installation, upkeep, and benefits to come up with a clear guide. This will help planners, developers, and buyers understand the true cost and value of sustainable drainage — making future UK floods a bit less likely.
