Housing Secretary Steve Reed says ‘Build, baby, build’, but with growing concern over flooding and water contamination on new build sites, how do housebuilders balance governmental pressure with safeguarding new and existing residents? Terram’s Adam Brooksbank comments.

This year’s Labour party conference saw housebuilding in the spotlight, with the new Housing Secretary reaffirming the Government’s commitment to 1.5million homes by 2029.

With major planning reform and investment promised for the coming months, the governmental and public pressure on builders and developers to deliver within compressed timelines is likely to intensify.

Whilst bolstering the construction pipeline can only be good news, the success of Labour’s ambitious home building strategy lies not only in speed but in long-term quality and acknowledgement of existing challenges within the industry.

One such challenge is water management. According to a recent survey[1], 56% of newbuild homeowners believe their home is at risk of flooding, and 72% expect their newbuild to be impacted by climate related weather events in the next 10 years.

As well as climate considerations, there is the issue of drainage. An ageing infrastructure – Victorian era in many areas – is ill equipped to handle the demands of our growing population. While the spotlight is often on London, where systems are operating 80% over capacity[2], drainage is a national issue, with more than half of UK councils [3]experiencing sewer system overwhelm in the last decade.

The 2024 implementation of mandatory sustainable drainage systems for new build properties (SuDs) will go a long way to mitigate flooding risks, but from a time efficiency perspective could present developers with its own challenges.

As a relatively new technology, SuDs implementation could represent a timing pitfall for developers, who may find it hard to come by experienced SuDs system designers and easily accessible specialist materials. To manage this, it’s vital to consider SuDs early in the specification process, and to look for solutions which can meet multiple build criteria for maximum efficiency.

Whilst traditional paving methods may feel more familiar to specifiers, and could even present cost savings, the reality is that these solutions are not only less effective, but more time-consuming too. The setting time of concrete, for example, can add days to a build, whilst the inclusion of loose gavel in a SuDs system can result in wider complications from the point of view of accessibility for wheelchair users and disabled residents.

Conversely, the early specification of geosynthetic water management materials can not only save time but provide developers with an environmentally friendly solution which is not only SUDS compliant but environmentally friendly. At Terram, for example, we offer both on-the-ground and underground solutions to support effective water management, all of which are designed to not only meet regulations, but actively enhance urban landscapes, without delaying the timescale of a development.

Whilst water management specification alone cannot resolve the pressure on housebuilders to deliver quality on a deadline, it does represent a broader point. While the Government’s aggressive prioritisation of homebuilding is laudable, it must not come at the cost of the industry’s commitment to quality.

In the words of Eddie Tuttle[4], director of policy, research and public affairs at the CIOB, success depends on ‘increasing the availability of skilled workers, improving supply chains and avoiding a race-to-the-bottom approach to procurement’. For developers, that means seeking innovative and efficient solutions, for the Government, it means providing the industry with the tools it needs to make a success of Labour’s ‘building blitz’.

[1] Over half of new build homeowners believe their home is at risk from flooding – Aviva plc

[2] SuDs – the long wait for implementation is over

[3] Flood cleanup costs reach up to £566m per year, with 57% of councils reporting overwhelmed sewers – Water Magazine

[4] ‘Who’s going to build these homes?’ – industry reacts to Labour’s new towns – Construction Management

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Sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) are rapidly shifting from an optional feature to a fundamental part of responsible groundworks. PHPD talks to Bioscapes about the rising SuDS responsibility and how forward thinking housebuilders can best benefit from it.

Although Schedule 3 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 has yet to be enforced in England, the need to tackle flood risk is pressing. The Environment Agency warns that by 2050, around eight million properties in England one in four – could be at risk of flooding, with climate change accelerating the threat.

Even without legislative mandates, developers face a clear imperative to build in resilience from the ground up. And the house-buying public is taking note – more environmentally aware than ever, today’s buyers increasingly expect flood-conscious, biodiversity-supporting developments from forward-thinking builders.

SuDS don’t just manage water – they deliver broader environmental and community value. Built around four core principles – water attenuation, water quality, biodiversity and amenity – SuDS offer measurable benefits when integrated from the outset.

From rain gardens to permeable paving, early integration supports compliance, enhances liveability, and boosts site value. Among the most practical options is the BioScapes® SuDS planter: a cost-effective, ground-level, off-the-shelf solution combining rainwater management with biodiversity enhancement. Proven to deliver a 7-fold biodiversity uplift, it is already being widely adopted by local authorities and water companies to meet dual objectives with minimal disruption.

The UK is one of the most nature depleted countries in the world, and a recent Royal Town Planning Institute investigation reveals many developments fall short of their biodiversity commitments, despite the growing legislative push for Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG).

Without real interventions – such as wildflower-rich swales, wetland zones, and pollinator planting – projects risk reputational and planning setbacks. SuDS offer natural alignment with BNG by combining drainage with habitat creation.

To support this, BioScapes Limited provides ecology consultancy services – helping developers assess existing site biodiversity and outline achievable, cost effective strategies for net gain. Engaging this expertise early can strengthen planning applications and reduce the risk of redesign or delays.

According to Terry Smithson, Head of Nature-based Solutions at BioScapes, embracing SuDS now offers a distinct edge:

“While many in the industry wait for Schedule 3 to be enacted, forward-thinking developers are already weaving SuDS into their groundworks. Doing so not only demonstrates environmental leadership but also pre-empts future compliance, unlocks permissions more easily and builds flood resilient places that stand the test of time.”

These systems also serve as standout sales features – green spaces and visible sustainability credentials resonate strongly with modern buyers.

There’s a common misconception that installing nature-based solutions is difficult to implement or costly when actually, they can provide cost savings. Defra research showed that in new build projects SuDS may be 30% cheaper than standard drainage.

In a changing climate, the real question is not if SuDS should be included—but how soon. Even without legal enforcement, the case is clear: integrated, sustainable drainage is no longer optional.

By incorporating SuDS from the outset complemented by ecological design and expert planning support – developers can mitigate flood risks, deliver biodiversity gains and meet the expectations of both regulators and residents. In doing so, they’re not just building homes – they’re building responsibly for the future.

For more information on BioScapes click here.

Sources:
¹ Environment Agency flood risk projections, 2025
² RTPI: Are developers in England delivering ecological enhancements required by planning permissions?

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