New planning rules coming in effect today mean that anyone who wants to put in a new driveway or parking area over five square metres will not require planning permission, so long as they use surfaces that allow the water to soak through the ground.
Two thirds of the homes affected by the floods last year (about 55, 000) were due to surface water run-off causing £3bn of damage. Surface water flooding can be easily avoided by using permeable surfaces such as concrete block paving with gaps, porous asphalt or gravel, wheel track only paving or through installation of 'soak-away' systems. By using only permeable surfacing homeowners can reduce the negative impact of surface water drainage on their properties making flooding significantly less likely.
Introducing the new legislation, Housing and Planning Minister Caroline Flint said "Many homes also need better protection against flooding which is why the changes promote permeable surfaces for driveways that allow surface water drainage - a major factor in recent floods." A guide to help explain the types of acceptable permeable surfaces for front gardens is available at: http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/pavingfrontgardens
ABB has launched AquaMaster+™, a digital platform for smart water network management, designed to help water utilities monitor, analyze and manage their water networks, preventing pipeline water losses and optimizing operations.
Craig Nienaber, Business Development Manager for Safe Access Solutions (SAS) at HUBER Technology, explores why the company is seeing a growing level of interest in its safe access solutions for critical infrastructure providers, including their application in wastewater treatment assets.
Albion Water, the first NAV (New Appointment & Variation) to have been established in1999 and now under the ownership of SDS Water Group, has appointed Andy Holland as its new Director of Business Development.
UK water companies are invited to join an upcoming webinar which will explore how the sector can take indirect potable reuse (IPR) from concept to full-scale operational reality.
Southern Water has released film and images showing what it’s like to walk inside Hampshire’s expanded Yew Hill underground reservoir for the very last time, before it gets filled with water.
Hear how Scottish Water has completed its £235 million Ayrshire Glasgow Resilience Project - customers across Greater Glasgow, Ayrshire and East Renfrewshire will now benefit from a more secure and resilient water supply.
Hear how United Utilities is accelerating its investment to reduce spills from storm overflows across the Northwest.