SuDS success celebrated at inaugural Awards
More than 100 guests gathered in London’s iconic City Hall Living Room last night to celebrate the inaugural susdrain SuDS Awards, supported by the Greater London Authority. Well-deserved winners were announced in three different categories, along with susdrain’s overall winner and our SuDS Champion as voted for by industry!
The awards showcase and recognise those delivering high quality sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) and attracted over 40 case study entries from across the UK.
Attendees were treated to an impassioned call for rewilding of our urban areas by keynote speaker Theo Thomas, the London Waterkeeper. A summary from the Chair, Andrew Eden, Environment Agency, left the audience with three key messages; strive for beauty, engage with stakeholders early, and consider communities and what will benefit them.
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We are delighted to announce that the 2018 susdrain overall winner is Sheffield City Council for Grey to Green Phase 1 – a multi-phase regeneration project in Sheffield’s city centre, which aims to transform their Riverside Business District. The project demonstrates how using SuDS as a catalyst has turned a ‘grey’ redundant highway into ‘green’ flowering meadows and wetlands. The judges considered it to be the “epitome of high quality SuDS”. |
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Commenting on their win, Sheffield City Council’s Principal Landscape Architect, Zac Tudor said; “It’s great that Sheffield has been recognised for our ambitious and creative thinking behind the design of our new public places. Designers need to think wider than just a space looking good - spaces need to function for the future, building in climate change resilience and making landscapes work harder by providing multiple benefits. This includes creating places and settings to encourage regeneration, sustainable water management, biodiversity, and helping to reduce our city’s heat island effect but, most importantly of all helping us achieve a greater sense of wellbeing.”
 Chryse Tinsley, SuDS Awards Champion |
Chryse Tinsley, SuDS Awards Champion said, “Winning this award is really important for me and Leicester City Council; it recognises our work and also reinforces our intent to do more and better SuDS for the city.” |
A special mention was also made of Phil Chatfield, who after a few decades of championing SuDS nationally is about to retire. During his career at the Environment Agency and more recently the Welsh Government Phil has tirelessly promoted SuDS. He's supported those developing guidance, policy and delivering SuDS on the ground. He's leaving a legacy in Wales, where in January they will be implementing Schedule 3 and a set of ministerial standards that will deliver multiple benefits. The industry owes Phil alot and wishes him a fantastic retirement!
Huge congratulations to all our winners, those that were highly commended and commended and of course thanks to everyone who entered this year.
Click here to view the 2018 susdrain SuDS Awards winners.
Check out the 2018 Awards winners here.
View of all this year's entries and shortlisted case studies here.