Guidance

National standards for sustainable drainage systems

Non-statutory standards for the design, maintenance and operation of surface water drainage systems in England.

Applies to England

Documents

Details

The non-statutory standards can help you design, maintain and operate surface water drainage systems for:

  • new developments
  • retrofit sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) (although not all parts may be directly applicable)

They promote consistency and help ensure long-term performance and resilience.

SuDS manage surface water in a way that mimics natural processes, providing a wide range of benefits beyond traditional drainage methods. This makes SuDS essential for new development. 

SuDS offer opportunities for: 

  • water reuse
  • reducing flood risk by slowing and storing runoff 
  • improving water quality by filtering pollutants 
  • enhancing the visual quality of our environment and offering recreational and educational opportunities 
  • supporting biodiversity

You can refer to the previous standards on the National Archives website.

Updates to this page

Published 19 June 2025
Last updated 30 July 2025 show all updates
  1. Added a link to the previous standards (on the National Archives website).

  2. First published.

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