This one day course has been developed to complement the recently published National standards for sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) in England (and also those in Wales). It builds upon the CIRIA SuDS Manual (C753) and references learning from the Greater London Authority Reimagining Rainwater in Highways guide (2025).
The training programme will enable practitioners to confidently design new build or retrofit SuDS for highways and similar areas. It will cover integrated design, risk assessment for water quality, infiltration considerations, detailing for robustness and durability in the highway space and how to overcome common issues. The training is applicable to all UK regions.
Introduction
Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) make a vital contribution to managing local flood risk and water quality as well as providing opportunities for biodiversity and amenity in new developments and redevelopments. SuDS are required in all new major developments and awareness by practitioners and regulators and their implementation is steadily increasing. Over time, knowledge and experience has improved and it is important that good practice is shared to promote improved understanding and high quality SuDS that deliver multiple benefits. Surface water management for new and existing highways is an important area to be considered.
Who should attend
This engaging course is relevant to civil, drainage and highways engineers; landscape architects; architects; and flood-risk managers. It serves professionals across client, consulting and contracting organisations, along with developers, local and highway authorities, sewerage undertakers, environmental regulators, and manufacturers and suppliers.
This course is also relevant to:
- Development control and highway adoption teams
- Highway maintenance and drainage teams
- Transport project teams (major projects, smaller schemes – interest in SuDS for major projects as well as SuDS for smaller traffic calming scheme, etc)
- Flood authority staff who deal with flood and drainage issues for development at planning application stage
Why should you attend
- keep up-to-date with current legislation and requirements of regulatory authorities
- explore what SuDS solutions work for the adopted highway (filtration, drainage and water quality performance, including in situation where infiltration is poor or water table is high, urban environment where space is tight and utilities are in the way, etc)
- design around constraints and when proprietary systems may be appropriate
- learn what works for SuDS in the highway and adoption agreements. Which parts can be adopted and maintained by the Highway Authority, which parts require a management company, which parts would be subject to commuted sums or private maintenance, etc
- understand the whole life cost for these solutions especially maintenance regimes and costs, disposal of contaminated materials, replanting, etc
- benefit from and share experiences and knowledge with our expert trainers and the other delegates
- gain CPD for your professional development.
Requirement
Delegates should be familiar with SuDS drivers and benefits as well as SuDS components and basic principles. Delegates should also be comfortable with group exercise work.
Course content and format of training
The training will build on the information presented in SUDS guidance and will cover strategic as well as practical issues of delivering SuDS in the built environment, specifically applied to highways.
This course will be delivered by a team of nationally recognised practitioners who have practical experience of implementing SuDS in a variety of developments including retrofit SuDS in highways. Course content will be interactive using a range of learning styles to engage and inspire participants. The course will include a number of demonstrative group exercises and case studies. The use of design examples will be central.
How will you benefit?
This new training is part of CIRIA’s comprehensive SuDS learning courses available in the UK. Delegates will have the opportunity to network with fellow professionals and learn from practitioners with recognised experience in delivering SuDS.