Sustainable Drainage Systems Major Design Guidance

This advice sets out the requirements that the LLFA has for drainage strategies and surface water management provisions associated with applications for major development.

Standard 6: Biodiversity

The applicant must provide a section within the Drainage Strategy or a standalone document confirming how this standard has been met.

Whilst the wider ecology and biodiversity is outside the LLFA’s remit, it remains a functional part of the principles of SuDS and therefore, it should be incorporated into drainage designs.

When deciding which type of SuDS are most suitable for the site, we would expect applicants to consider the Berkshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS). Where a site shows on the LNRS Map as having opportunities for biodiversity, we would expect to see above ground SuDS features such as basins, swales, ponds, raingardens, tree pits etc. used as far as possible.

The specific requirements of this standard may be assessed by other consultees.