I have written a number of times on the
perils of impermeable surfaces when it comes to Britains flood defences, and the need for action on the issue.
As the area of impermeable surfaces continues to grow it becomes harder for rainwater to seep into the ground and instead runs off into rivers and the sewerage system. This puts a strain on our Victorian infrastructure at the best of times, and when rainfall is heavy flooding is inevitable as sewers overflow and rivers break their banks.
This was amply illustrated in recent
flooding of Cockermouth, and the 2007 floods across Britain (
The Environment Agency calculated that two-thirds of the flooding experienced in the UK in 2007 was caused by surface water overwhelming the sewerage system).
This serious flooding caused billions of pounds worth of damage to property (and that figure is set to rise exponentially in the future), but more importantly causes untold misery for those affected, and even loss of life.
Measures are already in place to encourage organisations to adopt permeable surfaces, such as the 'Rain Tax' (
see my previous blog on the subject for more details) and planning permissions, and a change of attitude is definitely underway in Government, town planning, architects and the construction industry.
However, the rate of conversion of impermeable surfaces to permeable is very small, and many new private developments do not incorporate
SuDS (sustainable urban development strategies) into the design and construction, whether it be driveways, car parks or pathways.
I recently spoke to the owner of a company specialising in driveways who said SUDS / water permeable surfaces were not a concern to him, and he didn't want the bother of finding permeable alternatives when laying tarmac is cheaper and easier. He also said he knew he could get around any existing SUDS legislation as no one was enforcing it.
The first point to make is that if you are laying tarmac properly it will be far more expensive than using water permeable paving such as our
Hebden 40 (I make no apology for plugging it, as it is a fantastic product, and 100% recycled).
Secondly that is a terrible attitude to take when ones company can either be part of the problem or part of the solution, and doesn't display much forward thinking.
Thirdly, he is right about being able to get away with it at the moment. There have been cases where developers have been held liable for damage caused by flooding where the potential consequences were known and where steps could have been taken to address it (e.g. Lambert v Barratt Homes Limited (Manchester Division) [2009] EWHC 744 (QB)). However this is very much the exception. Existing legislation is not tough enough to tackle this problem, and is not compelling people to change the way they approach the issue.
However, that is set to change with the introduction of the
Flood and Water Management Bill from
Defra, currently being debated in parliament (and highlighted in the Queen's Speech), which draws heavily on the recommendations of
Sir Michael Pitt's review of the floods of 2007.
As part of a wide ranging set of measures designed to mitigate the risk of flooding, water permeable surfacing will become an integral part of our future landscape.

The bill proposes that the drainage system for all new developments or redevelopments needs to be approved by new council-run SUDS approving bodies, taking account of new national standards for sustainable drainage systems (to be drafted in spring 2010).
"This covers the building or a structure where the ability of the land to absorb rainwater is affected, and includes construction of roads" (
source).
It also compels local and highways authorities to contribute to and maintain sustainable development in order to reduce their flood risk.
In addition, the proposals include removing the automatic right to connect to a public sewer on all new developments. One of Pitt's conclusions was that the right to connect to a sewer is one of the main reasons SUDS are rarely adopted in new developments, despite the well publicised financial and environmental benefits.
The bill is expected to become law this year, and will hopefully go along way in equipping the nation to deal with the increased flood risk and in time significantly reduce the flood risk. Therefore
SUDS will become a routine feature of all new construction, and is well worth paying close attention to now to ensure you remain ahead of the curve.
The links below provide simple guidance on what the Bill means for:
Property Developers
Local Authorities (and
funding for Local Authorities)
Individuals
Please contact
British Recycled Products if you have any questions about the practicalities and costs of creating hard standing with our water permeable
Hebden 40 ground reinforcement system, or guidance on installation, so you are future proofed and thus able to react to any changes with ease and without disruption.
The product is quick and easy to install and incredible value for money. It can easily bear the weight of all UK legal vehicles, and creates attractive hard standing finished with gravel or grass. It is made in Britain from 100% recycled plastic diverted from landfill. It shows that the changes on the horizon are not a cause for concern, but a chance to improve our built environment