Northern Ireland Executive

09/19/2025 | Press release | Archived content

Kimmins seeks public views on Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) in New Housing Developments

Kimmins seeks public views on Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) in New Housing Developments

Topics:
  • Living With Water Programme

Date published: 19 September 2025

Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins launched a public consultation on Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) in New Housing Developments today.

This initial public consultation focuses on developing and implementing new policies and regulatory arrangements to ensure nature-based SuDS, such as grassed swales, raingardens and detention ponds are provided in new housing developments in the future. The widespread implementation of nature-based SuDS will be key to tackling the challenges of climate change, managing flood risk and limiting the impact of new developments on the existing drainage networks across the region.

Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins said:

"Sustainably managing our drainage and wastewater systems is integral to continuing the growth of our economy and allowing much needed new homes to be built. While improving our existing sewerage systems will be a huge exercise, costing billions of pounds and taking decades, it is also important that we integrate nature-based drainage solutions into future housing developments. By doing so, we will help to protect the water quality of our rivers and loughs; improve the future performance of our sewerage systems; and help reduce the risk of flooding."

The Minister concluded:

"My Department's Water, Sustainable Drainage and Flood Management Bill was introduced to the NI Assembly on 23 June 2025. It is currently progressing through the Assembly and is an integral part of my three-pronged approach to deliver better water and wastewater infrastructure to support growth and adapt to changing weather patterns. This Bill will provide powers to make regulations in relation to the design, approval and maintenance of SuDS. This consultation seeks views on the development and implementation of new policies and regulatory arrangements to ensure that nature-based SuDS, such as grassed swales, raingardens and detention ponds are provided in new housing developments in the future."

The consultation opens today and will close on 19 December 2025. It can be accessed at: https://www.infrastructure-ni.gov.uk/consultations/sustainable-drainage-systems-suds-new-housing-developments

Notes to editors:

  1. The proposed powers provided in the new Water, Sustainable Drainage and Flood Management Bill, which is currently going through the Assembly, will allow the Department to make regulations in relation to the design, approval, operation and maintenance of nature-based SuDS.
  2. All media queries should be directed to the Department for Infrastructure Press Office at: mailto:[email protected]
  3. The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service for media enquiries between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.
  4. Follow the Department on X @deptinfra; Facebook @DepartmentforInfrastructure; LinkedIn DfILinkedIn; Instagram @departmentforinfrastructure; Bluesky @infrastructure-ni.gov.uk.
Northern Ireland Executive published this content on September 19, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on September 22, 2025 at 10:21 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]