SuDS Approval Bodies

Floods and Water Management Act 2010 The Flood and Water Management Act 2010 received royal assent in April 2010, and it implements a number of recommendations for the Pitt Review that followed the devastating 2007 floods. Schedule 3 of the Act, which is likely to be commenced in October, is concerned with SuDS.

SAB With regards to SuDS and surface water drainage, the Act calls for the establishment of a SuDS Approving Body (SAB) to be set up in either county, county borough or unitary local authorities. The SAB is to sit within the Highways and Transportation as we are the Lead Local Flood Authority

SAB The Act also amends Section 106 of Water Industry Act (1991) to make the right to connect surface water to public sewers conditional on the SAB approving the drainage system as meeting the National Standards.

SAB the SAB will be responsible for approving, adopting and maintaining drainage plans and SuDS schemes that meet the National Standards for sustainable drainage. Any drainage scheme will need to be approved prior to the commencement of construction work, so the SAB approval process will run in parallel with general planning applications

Who is the SAB Highways and Transportation Development Control Building Control Landscape Development Regeneration Officers Legal Services Streetscene Services + others

What is required Developers will have to talk to the SAB early in the design stage, the following will have to be taken into consideration Overland Flows Exceedance flows Run-off destination Peak flow rates Volume Water quality

Local requirements The SAB will be able to set its own local requirements however these will have to be published. These can be related to the provision of biodiversity and amenity. Construction method statements Maintenance plans

The Process SAB applications will be sent in either as a stand alone or combined with a planning application. This will be done via the planning portal. Applications will have to be validated with in 5 days however if part is missing then applicant will have a further 7 days to make good. If application is very poor it shall be returned to applicant with fee. An application fee will be charged, these have been laid down by the Government

The Process The SAB will have 12 weeks to determine the application Statutory consultees – Environment Agency – Northumbrian Water Limited – Highways Authority

The process The SAB can place conditions for Non performance bonds Inspection fees Maintenance period Legal agreements will be needed for adoptions

The Process Inspections will be taken during construction Upon completion any SuDS on private properties will need to be designated via a local land charge SuDS will also have to be placed on the asset register