Sustainable Drainage (SuDS) resources including the SuDS Manual

This susdrain web page provide links to the CIRIA SuDS Manual, and supporting resources including a list of updated versions of the fact sheets contained in the original manual. The main susdrain website https://www.susdrain.org/resources/ is also a treasure trove of other useful guidance and case studies on SuDS.

The CIRIA SuDS Manual (C753), published in 2015, is the definitive guide on the design of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) in the UK. It is complemented by a 2017 publication called Guidance on the construction of SuDS (C768). Both publications were freely available to download from the CIRIA website until Jan 2024, though they are now planning to charge £25.

The SuDS Manual is a very detailed guide to every element of SuDS, including swales, retention ponds, detention basins, permeable paving, green walls and roofs, constructed wetlands, etc, as well as explaining how these elements need to be linked together into a ‘treatment chain’. It is illustrated with diagrams, photos and case studies. CIRIA also offer training courses on SuDS design.

The construction guide considers SuDS in the construction planning and management of a site. The guide discusses the construction of the different SuDS components using photographs of actual site works to illustrate both good practice and what can go wrong. Case studies are provided to show how good construction has been achieved or problems resolved.