SEV was able to take bold decisions to introduce Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems, whereas a traditional developer may have been primarily concerned with the amount of development land was taken up by the system of swales.

The SEV organisation knew that water conservation and management would be an integral part of the Energy Village. Since the installation of the swales, there has been no incidence of flooding during heavy rain of a neighbouring road (something that had been a historic problem before).

SUDS deal with surface water run off from the roads and other hard surfaced areas. The water gently permeates or evaporates creating green corridors through the site and stopping any risk of flash flooding. The Energy Village has the UK's largest application of engineered SUDS, with all surface waters being managed on site.

Despite ongoing issues about whether statutory authorities would adopt SUDS (ongoing in the UK) SEV’s stance has been that they work; adding to biodiversity; mitigating flood risk; looking better than a barren industrial landscape and cutting pollution. SUDS are a recommendation in the UK Government’s Planning Policy Guidance (PPG 25). SEV didn’t need to wait for the guidance, we went ahead with SUDS and they are being maintained by our organisation.