A new Retrofit Design Note aimed at integrating Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) into the existing public realm and streets in Kildare's towns and villages has been published by the County Council.

This SuDS Retrofit Design Note highlights the benefits of using such drainage systems, including how they are a way of managing rainfall using more nature-based methods by slowing it down so that sites maintain greenfield runoff rates and do not contribute to flooding downstream, whilst making significant improvements to amenity, landscape, biodiversity, pollution control and placemaking.

This is opposed to traditional surface water management, which involves hard engineered 'grey' solutions such as pipes and attenuation tanks to collect and quickly convey rainwater to the sewer and river networks, contributing to flooding and water pollution.

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While it is relatively straightforward to integrate SuDS into new developments, it can be more challenging to retrofit existing streets and spaces. In recognition of this, the SuDS Retrofit Design Note will be a useful resource for those designing public realm projects, and designs or upgrades of streets, park / open space, roads, and more.

Kildare County Council has already started applying best practice in SuDS design to its own Parks projects and will ensure that best practice in SuDS is integrated into the design of all its projects, including proof-of-concept public realm projects in Athy and Celbridge, and retrofitting five housing estates in Kildare town to improve flood resilience.

This approach is supported by the policies and objectives of the Council's County Development Plan and Local Area Plans and compliance with these policies and objectives is a pre-requisite to any design process.

Kildare County Council is confident that the quality of the built and natural environment will benefit from the implementation of the Design Note and requests all those with responsibility for projects that should be integrating SuDS into streets, spaces and public realm to refer to the Note.

The new Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) Guidelines and  Design Note are available to view online by clicking here.