This month DEFRA published the summary of responses to the consultation that will see sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) implemented in England.

The floods of summer 2007 and subsequent Pitt review highlighted that the majority of property flooding was caused by surface water overloading of the drains….the exact scenario we had in Cambridge this weekend where some 30 properties were flooded by a short but sharp rainstorm.

This summer DEFRA announced a delay to the implementation of SuDS in England – originally planned for October 2012 – Smith and Wallwork are writing to DEFRA urging them to publish a new date for implementation as soon as possible.