CONCRETE & STONEWORK
AS SURE AS HOUSES
BY JAMIE GLEDHILL, TECHNICAL ENGINEER AT BRETT LANDSCAPING
Discussion around SuDS( Sustainable Drainage Systems) often focuses on the immediate, visible benefits of introducing surface water management systems that enhances the appeal of local landscaping aesthetics, which is of course a fair and important consideration for many scheme designers.
However, at Brett Landscaping we have been championing an underappreciated aspect of installing an effective fit for purpose SuDS system that is right for the environment it serves – efficient longevity.
As local authorities and government are looking at ways to tackle a highways repair backlog that is estimated to require more than £ 17bn of investment, Brett Landscaping has undertaken research to demonstrate the longterm effectiveness of Concrete Block Permeable Paving( CBPP), offering a feasible proven solution for local authorities to the pothole maintenance backlog if used on small estate roads.
CBPP can play a valuable role on the SuDS management train for high traffic areas. They act as a source control if water can infiltrate back to ground, they can attenuate the surface water discharge, as well as clean the water and discharge at a controlled rate once a storm event has passed.
These pavements can replicate the natural environment by absorbing a 5mm rainfall event with no discharge from the system and cleaning the surface water flow via their two levels of water treatment.
However, there are several misconceptions on the joint maintenance performance of CBPP that can block the successful adoption of the systems under Section 38 agreements, preventing their wider use as a major tool in the SuDS Management train and mitigation of surface water flooding.
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