5 Sustainable Drainage Systems (SUDs)
46. Councils are already working with developers
to introduce Sustainable Drainage Systems (SUDs) to reduce flood
risk. The LGA noted that more than 40% of newly built properties
have connections to SUDs.[98]
However, key provisions of the Flood and Water Management Act
which require new developments of two or more properties to adopt
SUDs are yet to be commenced, some three years after enactment.
These measures would make the right to connect surface water to
the public sewer conditional on the drainage system being approved
by a SUDs Approving Body. Sewerage undertakers, the EA, IDBs,
British Waterways and Highway Authorities are to be statutory
consultees to the Approving Body.[99]
47. We expressed dismay in our report on the
Draft Water Bill published in February 2013 that implementation
of the SUDs regulations had been put back until April 2014. Witnesses
to this inquiry were also disappointed at the lack of action to
implement these measures. The LGA noted that councils were "frustrated
by the delays" since the publication of national standards
and establishment of SUDs Approving Bodies would provide "certainty
for developers and councils in the design and approval of suitable
schemes".[100]
The Secretary of State gave assurances that the Water Bill would
include measures to encourage water companies to use SUDs.[101]
After we finished taking evidence, on 27 June, the Government
introduced a Water Bill. This includes measures aimed at encouraging
the use of SUDs by sewerage undertakers which we will wish to
examine. However, we remain concerned that existing primary legislation
on SUDs remains to be commenced.
48. Three years after enactment
of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010, its provisions on
sustainable drainage have yet to be implemented. We have previously
criticised the Government for failure to reach agreement with
key parties, such as local authorities, on how implementation
is to be funded and managed, yet Defra is unable to commit to
commencement before April 2014. Sustainable drainage is a key
aspect of managing flood risk and it is vital that the measures
are implemented without further delay.
49. We were not able to examine in this inquiry
wider issues on SUDs such as the potential for such systems to
minimise water run-off from roads. There is a need for Highways
Authorities and local councils to take more action to prevent
surface water from highways overwhelming the capacity of combined
sewers and flooding homes and businesses. Defra
must liaise with the Department for Transport and the Department
for Communities and Local Government on measures to encourage
local authorities and Highways Authorities to install sustainable
drainage measures which will improve the management of water run-off
from roads.
98 Ev 100 Back
99
British Waterways became the Canal and River Trust in July 2012 Back
100
As above Back
101
Q 353 Back
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