An important interim conclusion of the Pitt review on last July’s floods is that the automatic right to connect surface water drainage from new developments to the sewerage system should be removed. Not surprisingly, environmental organisations often lead the push for more sustainable drainage. At Stamford Brook, near Altrincham, the National Trust sold 28 hectares of land for a major housing development by Redrow Homes and Bryant Homes. A condition was that a longstanding plan be implemented to restore the Sinderland Brook, a canalised stream running through the site, and that sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS) should be incorporated. <br><br>Drainage schemes <br><br>The Trust brought in hydrological consultants Haycock Associates to design and implement the connected river restoration and drainage schemes. The company’s Dr Harry Gibson explains: “The SUDS comprise a series of swales and storage basins designed to enhance ecology and increase amenity value, whilst ensuring that surface water run-off into Sinderland Brook does not exceed that of a greenfield site. “The wider, shallower river floodplain that was created was unusual in increasing the level of flood protection both to the existing housing and the new development, whilst also being more ‘natural.’ <br><br>This provides a contrast to the common assumption …