SRA Annual Report 2022-23: Inspections of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS)
In 2022-23, as in previous years, a lot of close attention was devoted in this workstream to examining Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) at new developments.
Very few formal SuDS inspection processes are in place across England: Somerset is ahead in checking new developments.
The SRA and its partners want to ensure that SuDS are built in accordance with the exact designs that were approved by local planning authorities, and that they work as they are meant to work.
Inspectors check schemes for compliance against 16 different criteria.
The photographs below show the kinds of SuDS features that get checked. These features come from sites near Bishop’s Hull Road, Taunton, that were inspected. Text continues below the photographs.
Local planning authorities have the power to enforce changes to constructed SuDS schemes, and where necessary they use this power.
Special attention is also paid to handover arrangements for future maintenance, which is crucial for SuDS operation.
The SRA funded inspections of SuDS at 48 places in 2022-23. Full lists are below. Generally most places were found to be acceptable.
Places inspected in Somerset West and Taunton
- Bishop’s Hull, Phase 1 & 2 and Phase 3 Abbeyvale and Phase 4, land south of Kinglake
- Carhampton, Townsend Farm
- Corfe, Corfe Farm
- Dunster, Higher Marsh Farm
- Henlade, land at Stoke Road
- Longforth Farm, Phase 1 (highway drainage)
- Minehead, Ellicombe
- Monkton Heathfield, Farriers Green (Tanpitts Farm), West Monkton, and Local Centre, and Phase 1
- North Curry, Loscombe Meadow, Overlands
- Porlock, Villes Lane
- Staplehay, Amberd Lane
- Taunton, Cheddon Road, Creechbarrow Road, Killams Lane Original & Phases 1 – 4A, Richmond Court
- Wellington, Rylands Nurseries, Bagley Road; Williton, land to the East of Aller Mead Way aka Watery Lane
- Wiveliscombe, Sandys Moor, and Style Farm
Places inspected in Sedgemoor
- Axbridge, Land off Cheddar Road
- Bridgwater, All Saints Terrace
- Burnham on Sea, former BT Radio Station
- Cannington, Grange Farm
- Lympsham, West Road
- North Petherton, Royal View, Taunton Road (A38) and Stafflands Park
- Pawlett, Land at Chapel Road
- Puriton, Riverton Road
- Wedmore, Westholme Farm, (east of Wedmore Primary School) Phases 1 & 2
- Westonzoyland, Liney Road
- Woolavington (Lavers Close), 17 Higher Road
Places inspected in South Somerset
- Chard, Mitchell Gardens, Thorndun Park Drive, and Willow Way, Cedar Close
- Misterton, Bradfords Yard, north of Railway, Station Road, and south of Railway, Station Road
- Yeovil, Bunford Heights and Lyde Road
Places inspected in Mendip
- Evercreech, Prestleigh Road
- Glastonbury, land north west of the A39, and Old Wells Road
- Wells, former Nutricia factory, Glastonbury Road, and Haybridge, Portway and land at Wookey Hole Road