Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) Approval Body (SAB)

The Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) Approval Body (SAB) was a duty placed upon the Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA) by Schedule 3 of the Flood and Water Management Act (2010). As a SAB, we would have been responsible for:

• approving all SuDS serving more than one property in the city,
• adopting all SuDS serving more than one property in the city,
• maintaining any SuDS we adopt into the future.

However, it is now unlikely that this legislation will now be brought into force and therefore it is not currently expected that we will become a SAB.

Expectation is still placed on developers by the National Planning Policy Framework to include SuDS in all major development and any minor development in areas of increased flood risk. It is also an expectation, according to the Written Ministerial StatementOpens in new tab released on 18 December 2014, for developers to make suitable arrangements for the maintenance of SuDS for the lifetime of a development. This could be through adoption by a public or private body. More information on our SuDS adoption policy can be found Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) adoption page.

However, as of 15 April 2015, we as the LLFA have become a statutory consultee on major planning applications in relation to surface water drainage. Further information on this role can be found on the Achieving sustainable development page.