Flooding and planning

As we are a statutory consultee for major planning applications, we provide guidance and advice on the types of sustainable drainage to manage surface water effectively.

There is only so much we and other risk management authorities can reasonably do to manage flood risk. We are running out of space to build new flood alleviation schemes, so it is time to be creative and look at flood and water management differently. This means accepting not all water will be underground, especially during intense rainfall. Instead, water can be collected and stored in spaces above ground until it can be released into the sewer network. 

Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) capture rainwater and store it before slowly releasing it into the receiving drainage network, such as sewers or watercourses. This helps to take pressure off the sewer system and drainage network during times of heavy and prolonged rainfall. Water is stored in things like planters or rain gardens, so ways that copy the way water would naturally be captured. This is particularly useful in a city like Hull with many built-up areas.

From left to right - Water butts, Permeable paving, Rain planters and Rain gardens

As well as helping reduce flood risk, SuDS also help to - 

• bring nature back into the city 
• increase biodiversity 
• improve air and water quality
• improve the look of places
• improve people’s health and wellbeing

Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) has been introduced to ensure that development leaves sites in a better state (‘net gain’) than before the development took place.