Location London Road, Markfield, Leicestershire, LE67 9UR
A proposed Greenfield residential development consisting of 105 Plots and associated public open space. Sub-soil testing confirmed that infiltration potential is low. Planning density requirement of 23 dwellings per hectare, including a 40% provision for affordable housing resulted in limited open space available for landscaped or vegetated SuDS features in order to achieve a layout that remains commercially viable. The SuDS proposals for the development provide a balance of below ground and above ground sustainable drainage features and complimentary proprietary products. Flows from the upper sub-catchment are attenuated in below ground oversized pipes and precast concrete box culverts with integral dry weather flow channels to maintain self-cleansing water velocities during more frequent rainfall events generating lower flow rates. This flow cascades to the lower sub-catchment where downstream treatment can take place in natural, but smaller SuDS features. A combination of dense protected woodland to the west of the development and a key centralised childrens play area left a sizable piece of open space in the south eastern part of the site that was suitable for surface water attenuation. A dry pond was originally planned to attenuate the upper catchment but planning requirements led to a change of layout to retain the woodland and the introduction of the play area resulted in a loss of available land for vegetated SuDS so that planning density could be preserved. As such, the decision was made to utilise space under the public highway for surface water attenuation in the form of concrete box culverts. The developer appointed a landscape architect once planning permission was granted. The engineering consultants led the design process for the drainage system and the landscape architect was responsible for the detailed design of the planting within the vegetated SuDS feature. In order to maximise sales in a time of economic recovery, the developer wanted to ensure that potential buyers would not be deterred by annual services charges for the maintenance of SuDS in both the public and private realm. Severn Trent Water require vegetated SuDS to be adopted by a public body should they form part of the wider drainage system and this led to the decision to site all vegetated SuDS in the adoptable open space. The drainage design was considered acceptable to the Environment Agency and there were no causes for objection to the planning application on the grounds of surface water drainage or flood risk.
The downstream balancing pond, measuring 711m3 in volume, consists of a planted channel, similar to a swale, contained within the base that routes the water into a micro-pool, the base of which is 500mm below the outlet pipe invert level ensuring a 500mm deep permanent water depth. This offers two stages of pollutant removal in accordance with environment agency requirements and some attenuation within the footprint of the balancing pond. The pond is designed to be a usable space in dry weather conditions with gentle side slopes no steeper than 1 in 4.
A (prototype) precast concrete filter chamber designed to remove hydrocarbons, heavy metals, pathogens, nitrates and sediments from the collected storm water.
Permeable paving is used on all private car parking spaces and driveways. This provides a complimentary benefit to the drainage system but is not cited as an integral part of the SuDS strategy due to lack of control over future maintenance.
210 litre water butts are provided to each dwelling to assist with attenuation and encourage water recycling around the property. In a worst case scenario where water butts were not utilised effectively they would not contribute any benefit and are excluded for the main drainage strategy.
Due to physical space restrictions, previously discussed, additional below ground attenuation is achieved using 68 Precast Concrete Box culverts with dry weather flow channels under the proposed highway each measuring 2m x 1.5m and 360m3 in volume. Whilst dry weather flow channels are generally not regarded as part of a good SuDS design, they were required by the adopting authority to prevent excessive maintenance.
3 Precast Concrete modular flow control chambers
62m of 1200mm diameter precast concrete pipes offering 70m3 of storage volume.
Permeable paving is provided to all private paved surfaces. This includes porous tarmac to large communal areas and parking spaces and permeable block paving to the parking areas of larger executive properties. Site investigation determined that the cohesive nature of the subsoil would deem it unviable for infiltration/soakaway systems, so the design is based around attenuation of surface water and also delaying the time of entry into the surface water drainage system. As such, the areas of permeable surfaces are lined with an impermeable geomembrane laid to fall to a low spot where the water is intercepted by a localised carrier drain and directed into the surface water sewers without any specific flow control. This proves advantageous as the water is filtered through the geotextile and aggregate layers before it finds its way into the system at a much slower rate than a traditional driveway. Each homeowner is provided with a booklet explaining how their parking area is constructed and how it should be maintained thereafter.
Each property is fitted with a 210 litre water butt. This is to encourage rainwater recycling for use around the garden including watering plants and turf.
Rainwater harvesting systems are not utilised in the development due to commercial issues and concerns over future maintenance and sales resistance.
Trapped gullies are used in the highway to reduce levels of hydrocarbons, silts and other pollutants entering the system.
Headwalls are provided within the pond to facilitate connection with the piped network. Planting is designed so that, over time, the visual impact of these engineered features will be softened.
The site was developed with the intention of the SuDS features becoming adopted by Leicestershire County Council as a trial of their future duties as the SuDS Approval Body. In order to assist with the adoption process and future maintenance, Severn Trent Water have adopted all of the surface water pipework and below ground concrete storage systems.
Precast concrete systems were selected over geoceullar storage for the following reasons:
Precast concrete can be situated under the public highway ensuring no additional extra space is needed. This helps to maximise the developable area of the site.
Geoceullar storage was not accepted for adoption by Severn Trent Water or Leicestershire County Council. The developer insisted on having all of the drainage system adopted by a public body.
Precast concrete culverts and pipes are simple to maintain and full access for inspection and maintenance can be easily achieved.
Greater proven service life and structural robustness.
Precast concrete flow control chambers were chosen as they conform to the adoption requirements of the Water Authority and also have significant health and safety benefits in comparison to brickwork or in-situ concrete where site operatives have to spend lengthy amounts of time working within potentially dangerous excavations. The treatment chamber used within the development is to be trailed by the Leicestershire County Council Highway Authority. The treatment chamber works by removing hydrocarbons, heavy metals and other known surface water contaminants. The intention is to drain surface water from a small number of plots and associated driveways directly into the chamber and monitor the quality of water inflow compared with water outflow over a period of time. Successful results could lead to the treatment chamber being considered for adoption on other developments where it may be used in conjunction with other SuDS features.
Leicestershire County Council stipulated that they would not adopt features which attenuate all runoff in a single downstream attenuation feature and will require sub-catchments, with some of the attenuation volumes being adopted by other authorities.