SuDS in London - a guide

4.1 SuDS and the
urban realm
This section shows how SuDS can be
integrated into the design and management
of some typical London streets. SuDS
should be designed in parallel with other
urban design considerations, reflecting
the unique opportunities and constraints
created by every London street.
Streets account for 80% of London’s
public realm. They are not just corridors
for movement; they contribute to the
city’s sense of place and identity and often
reflect London’s diverse communities.
Well designed streets are essential for
London’s future growth, both in terms of
population level and economic activity.
Their function for pedestrians and cyclists,
as well as other users, is growing and the
design of streets needs to facilitate this.
Improvements to streets can directly
unlock wider benefits beyond movement,
including health benefits for London’s
growing population. These benefits can be
realised at a variety of levels, from minor
interventions to transformations of large
junctions and gyratories.
Streets are places too
SuDS are an important component of
this transformation, addressing surface
water flood risk, improving air quality and
contributing to a higher quality of life.
Eight street scenarios are illustrated
below to show how SuDS may be provided
within the many different street types
across London. Although based on
specific examples of streets in London,
the illustrations are purposefully generic,
aiming to demonstrate the art of the
possible in a variety of locations and
environments, rather than to provide a
strictly applicable set of design criteria.
66 4 SuDS in London’s streets