Policy information sourced from the East Herts District Plan

WAT5 Sustainable Drainage

Development must utilise the most sustainable forms of drainage systems in accordance with the SUDS hierarchy, unless there are practical engineering reasons for not doing so.

Development should aim to achieve Greenfield run-off rates and ensure that surface water run-off is managed as close to its source as possible.

Drainage should be designed and implemented in ways that deliver other policy objectives of this Plan, including water use efficiency and quality, biodiversity, amenity and recreation. The provision of balancing ponds as part of an area of public open space for recreation or wildlife should be designed to ensure the safety of other users of the space. Where SUDs are provided as part of a development, applicants should detail how it will be maintained in the long term.

Where practicable, SUDS should be designed to ensure the sustainable drainage networks have the additional capacity required to cope with infrequent adverse weather conditions and therefore reduce flood risk.

For more information please see the District Plan