As urban development continues to increase impermeable surfaces and pressure on drainage networks, well-planned Sustainable Drainage Systems have become essential to managing water responsibly and reducing flood risk. This training course gives participants a complete, practical grounding in planning, designing, and managing SuDS, connecting drainage design decisions directly to real flood risk and water management outcomes.

Participants will strengthen their understanding of stormwater behavior and how it shapes drainage system requirements, and will build practical competency in applying flood mitigation measures within sustainable drainage design. The course places strong emphasis on integrating SuDS principles into urban drainage networks, and develops sound skills in broader water management practices that support resilient, sustainable urban development.

This program is delivered by The British Academy for Training and Development through its Planning, Design and Flood Risk Management for Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) Training Course, designed to build well-rounded, practical SuDS capability for civil and environmental engineers.

By the end of this training course, participants will be able to:

• Apply core principles of Sustainable Drainage Systems to urban development projects
• Understand stormwater behavior and its impact on drainage design
• Apply flood mitigation measures within sustainable drainage solutions
• Design and integrate SuDS components into urban drainage networks
• Apply sound water management principles across drainage system planning
• Evaluate flood risk and design systems to manage it effectively
• Apply relevant codes and standards to SuDS planning, design, and management

Target Group

• Civil and environmental engineers involved in drainage and flood risk projects
• Urban planners coordinating drainage requirements with development plans
• Water resources engineers working on stormwater and drainage systems
• Local authority and infrastructure engineers responsible for urban drainage
• Engineers and professionals advancing their expertise in Sustainable Drainage Systems

Foundations of Sustainable Drainage Systems

• The role of Sustainable Drainage Systems in modern urban development
• Key principles and components of SuDS
• Linking SuDS planning to broader flood risk and water management goals

Stormwater Management

• Understanding stormwater generation and behavior in urban areas
• Assessing stormwater volumes and flow for design purposes
• Managing stormwater quality alongside quantity

Flood Mitigation

• Principles of flood mitigation within sustainable drainage design
• Selecting SuDS features to reduce flood risk
• Balancing flood mitigation with other design objectives

Urban Drainage Design

• Integrating SuDS into existing urban drainage networks
• Designing SuDS components such as swales, basins, and permeable surfaces
• Coordinating SuDS design with wider infrastructure planning

Water Management

• Principles of sustainable water management in urban environments
• Balancing water quantity, quality, and amenity objectives
• Long-term maintenance and performance of SuDS

Practical Application

• Case studies in Sustainable Drainage Systems planning and design
• Common flood risk and drainage challenges and practical solutions
• Lessons learned from real SuDS implementation projects