National Standards for Sustainable Drainage
In June 2025, Defra published the National SuDS Standards. The guidance they give is a material consideration in the planning process and should be considered alongside the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), Flood Risk and Coastal Change Planning Practice Guidance (PPG) and Local Planning policy (which is also summarised within our Flood Risk Guidance for Development).
In parallel, the recent consultation on a revised National Planning Policy Framework made explicit reference in draft policy F-8 that SuDS should be designed in accordance with the National Standards. The finalised revised NPPF is expected to be published in Summer 2026.
As such, new applications submitted after the 1 September 2026 will be assessed in detail against the National Standards. This however does not mean the Standards do not apply to present development proposals and the Standards may be used on a light-touch basis to support the LLFA’s statutory responses.
CIRIA has been commissioned by the EA to create a pro-forma for the National Standards with publication expected around the end of May 2026. The LLFA is also in the process of updating its Flood Risk Guidance for Development to support the National Standards and this will be published in due course.