SUDS and SANGS

SuDS

Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SuDS) are designed to be functional, fully integrated elements of green infrastructure, and are now increasingly important parts of new developments. They were introduced to address concerns regarding surface water flooding resulting from increased urban development. SuDS deliver multiple environmental, social and economic benefits, which are very closely aligned with the benefits associated with green infrastructure.

The Land Trust has extensive experience of managing SuDS on many of our service charge sites. This experience, particularly in liaising with residents and using SuDS as something that can be enjoyed and provide real tangible benefit to the communities we work with, sets us apart from many other land management organisations.

Our Estates Management team are extremely knowledgeable about the effective management of SuDS systems and we employ trained contractors on site who follow the Ciria guidance to ensure best practice is followed, ensuring the SuDS delivers the benefits they are supposed to and more.

You can read more about the Land Trust’s approach to SuDS management in this document:

SANG

Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG) is the name given to greenspace that is of a quality and type suitable for use as mitigation to offset the impact of new residential development on European protected Natura 2000 sites; Special Protection Areas (SPAs) and Special Areas of Conservation (SACs). The purpose of SANG is to provide an alternative greenspace to attract residents of new developments away from the protected and vulnerable sites.
SANG must be designed and delivered in accordance with Natural England’s guidelines and can be created from a range of landscapes including existing open space, agricultural fields, woodland and restored landfill.

The Land Trust has experience managing SANG on a number of our sites including Wellesley Woodlands, Ash Green Meadows and Eashing Fields.

Wellesley Woodlands is the largest SANG in the country at 110 hectares and forms part of Grainger PLC’s development Wellesley, an urban extension of 3,850 new homes being delivered on former Garrison land in Aldershot.

The challenge at Wellesley Woodlands was the planning conditions for the developer, Grainger, which stipulated a requirement for an area of SANG to offset any negative impact that the development may have on the Thames Basin Heaths SPA.

By working in partnership with Grainger, and having a shared vision for long term investment and sustainable place making, our involvement enabled the project to achieve planning consent and secured the long term funding for the SANG. This allows the Land Trust to manage the site in perpetuity and create jobs for on-site rangers to develop and maintain the green spaces, ensuring the site has become a focal point and asset for the community.

You can read more about our work managing SANGs here: