Faculties are splendid places for sustainable drainage techniques as a part of flood and storm overflow discount methods, says Lorna Davis, director, SuDSPlanter Ltd, who particulars a current neighborhood partnership with Yorkshire Water
Yorkshire Water has partnered with sustainable drainage and engineering specialist SuDSPlanter® to put in rainwater planters in 15 faculties and one city farm. A complete of 49 specialised planters have been put in in cities and cities throughout Yorkshire, together with Leeds, Rotherham and Doncaster, in March 2025.
SuDSPlanter techniques are designed to seize rainwater run-off from roofs by rerouting the downpipe into the planters as an alternative of straight into the drains. The water is held within the SuDSPlanter unit inside the storage space and the soil and brought up by the vegetation. That is then slowly launched again into drains, decreasing the chance of sewers changing into overwhelmed throughout inclement climate.
Every planter contains a sequence of layers, appearing as each a sponge and a pure filter, attenuating stream and eradicating sediment because the water soaks by way of to a reservoir under. Specifically formulated soil mixes present the optimum atmosphere for supporting wholesome vegetation and holding water.
Low upkeep and hard-wearing, the planters additionally retailer extra water to maintain vegetation thriving throughout dry spells. They’re manufactured from 100% sustainable and recyclable supplies, with SuDSPlanter working carefully with companions and suppliers to realize a completely round economic system.
The SuDSPlanter workforce contains floor water administration and engineering specialists who perform in-depth session with companions, to establish how a community of planters can shield sewers and forestall flooding.
Local weather problem
Local weather change is bringing unpredictable climate patterns, with each drought and floods occurring extra incessantly and intensely. In lots of areas, city improvement and concrete surfaces have changed pure, absorbent landscapes. In consequence, rainwater run-off is reaching sewers sooner and in better volumes, growing threat of floods, air pollution and mixed sewer overflow (CSO) discharges.
Faculties could be significantly liable to flooding, attributable to their intensive hard-surfaced areas, reminiscent of playgrounds, sports activities pitches and automobile parks. In 2021, the UK authorities warned that just about 15,000 faculties can be at important threat from flooding by 2050 attributable to anticipated local weather change impacts.
Water firms should scale back CSO spills within the 2025-2030 asset administration plan (AMP8) interval. The regulatory expectations of AMP8 place robust emphasis on nature-based options, in addition to neighborhood engagement and local weather resilience – making faculties splendid companions for sustainable drainage tasks.
Spill discount
As a part of its Storm Spill Discount Programme, Yorkshire Water offered free stormwater planter techniques to fifteen major faculties and one metropolis farm, in areas the place wider flood alleviation measures have been undertaken.
SuDSPlanter was chosen because the gear supplier, constructing on profitable partnerships with faculties, native authorities and utilities throughout the UK. To kickstart the venture, planning conferences have been held with SuDSPlanter and Yorkshire Water’s venture workforce and contractor J N Bentley Ltd. SuDSPlanter coordinated web site surveys, deliveries, installations and planting at every location.
Product kind, measurement and system designs have been tailor-made for particular person websites, primarily based on the square-meterage of every roof and the calculated volumes of rainwater anticipated to empty into the system. Every system was bespoke in design, comprising between one and 5 planters. Further inventive parts reminiscent of cloud trays, cascade options and watering cans have been additionally offered.
Installations happened over 4 weeks in March 2025, typically taking between one and two days per web site, adopted by sooner or later for training engagement and planting.
SuDSPlanter’s in-house landscaping consultants have created a listing of appropriate vegetation for varsity planter techniques. In Yorkshire, vegetation have been chosen relying on web site location and side. As well as, every college acquired a key stage 1-4 training pack and plant upkeep handbook, developed by SuDSPlanter’s environmental specialists.
Now absolutely related and in operation, the 49 planters can seize a complete of 18,700 litres of rain – a major quantity to be saved out of the sewers throughout storms. Not solely has this diminished the chance of localised flooding, air pollution and CSO spills, new wildlife habitats have additionally been created in every of the 16 places.
Out of doors studying
The inexperienced areas and enhanced biodiversity have potential to positively impression the well being and wellbeing of customers, encourage bodily exercise and enthusiasm for nature and the outside. In addition they present a brand new area for outside classes, gardening and eco golf equipment.
The supply of academic assets helps studying in subjects such because the water cycle, water-saving, climate and local weather change, gardening, rising and caring for the pure world.
Alex Stephenson, SuDSPlanter director, mentioned: “It was a pleasure partnering with Yorkshire Water for this rewarding venture, which gave us the chance to work with pretty faculties and an city farm, and assist develop youngsters’s understanding of water, biodiversity and local weather.
“For Yorkshire Water, sustainable drainage in faculties will assist them obtain their key purpose of decreasing flood threat and CSO discharges, whereas delivering neighborhood advantages. We hope this collaborative strategy shall be rolled out at a bigger scale all through AMP8, to assist use of nature-based options to reinforce water high quality and construct resilience.”
Omair Khan, lead venture supervisor, storm spill discount programme, at Yorkshire Water mentioned: “The SuDSPlanter faculties’ collaboration is a incredible venture which can have long-term advantages for all companions and the atmosphere.
“By capturing stormwater, the planters will not be solely decreasing localised flood threat, they’re serving to construct resilience to dry spells in the summertime months by storing water, then slowly releasing it into the soil when wanted.
“I’d prefer to thank every college and the city farm for collaborating within the scheme – they need to take delight in serving to to forestall flooding and shield their native atmosphere.
“Since 2023, we’ve invested £180 million to cut back discharges from storm overflows throughout the entire of Yorkshire. Partnerships with specialists reminiscent of SuDSPlanter are key to attaining our objectives.”
Adam Ogilvie, chief govt, Meanwood City Farm, Leeds, mentioned: “The SuDSPlanters present the potential for a studying software when instructing our outside, nature-based studying actions to three,000 – 4,000 youngsters per 12 months”.
Youngsters from Oakworth Main Faculty mentioned: “We just like the planters as a result of they make the college extra vibrant, vibrant and it helps the atmosphere, plus they odor good. Having vegetation can entice wildlife which helps to pollenate different vegetation in our gardens”.
Youngsters from Bankside Main Faculty, Leeds, mentioned: ““We like the way in which the SuDSPlanter appears and having one thing that we will take care of and discover ways to develop vegetation in our personal playground”.
Youngsters from Lindhead Faculty, Scarborough, mentioned: “We like having our personal ‘particular drainage system’ which helps to cease the playground flooding and appears actually stunning”.
