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PLACING SUDS AT THE HEART OF GREEN COMMUNITY SPACES TfL’s Precious Birabil lists the myriad benefits of incorporating Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) in highway schemes
Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) features such as rain gardens or swales are designed to mimic natural processes by slowing and reducing the flow of water into the sewer system. As London continues to grow, climate change, population growth and densification are all contributing to increased levels of surface water runoff. This increases the risk of surface water flooding.
London Borough of Enfield
Transforming neglected spaces
Footway build-out and crossing integrated with SuDS rain gardens, wildflower and tree planting in Enfield, Hazelbury School
SuDS on the highway can take the form of roadside rain gardens in buildouts, trees and low-level planting, which are designed to capture run-off from adjacent hard surfaces, roadside swales in existing green spaces and permeable paving. As well as reducing flooding, SuDS can also help to transform and reactivate neglected places by introducing attractive planting. Healthy Street schemes provide many opportunities to integrate SuDS into different spaces on the street, for example, by creating rain gardens in pedestrian areas and pavement build-outs, which also act as traffic calming and parking control. SuDS work by taking surface water flow from impermeable surfaces such as carriageways and footways and transferring them into a permeable area, which allows the water to slowly percolate through the system. This allows controlled flow back into the sewer. The overall effect is to significantly slow and reduce the flow of water into the sewer system, reducing the chances of capacity being exceeded during high rainfall events.
