The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is the statutory agency responsible for protecting the water environment. SEPA requires the use of effective, appropriate sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) features in new developments.

The Construction Industry Research and Information Association (CIRIA) is an independent member-based, not-for-profit association. CIRIA promotes good practice in the use of SuDS with its Susdrain website. You can now download the "Benefits of SuDS" tool (BeST).

The Sustainable Drain Systems Network provides a UK-wide network for researchers, practitioners, agencies, developers and all those who are interested in SuDS.

SUDSnet: UK wide network for all involved with SUDS

Central Scotland Green Network has produced a guide for developers that describes simple measures to incorporate SuDS features into garden design.

Central Scotland Green Network: Raingardens for developers

Environmental management systems

If you are implementing an environmental management system for your business, you'll need to compile a legislation directory. In Scotland you may need to add the Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations 2005 (SI 2005/348) to your directory. These regulations require that all new developments use SuDS to control surface water run-off to the water environment, unless the run-off is from a single dwelling or is to coastal waters.

Scottish SuDS Legislation

Amends The Environmental Authorisations (Scotland) Regulations 2018 to incorporate technical provision for the regulation of industrial emissions activities, other emissions activities, waste activities, and water activities by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). 

These regulations are the first step in the delivery of an integrated framework of environmental authorisations. (Single permits). They put in place the common framework and introduce the technical provisions relating to the radioactive substances regime.  

The Water Environment (Miscellaneous) (Scotland) Regulations 2017

The Regulations amend existing general binding rules (GBRs) 3, 9 to 13, 15, 17 to 20, 23 and 24, and inserts new GBRs 25 to 28. Consolidate the oil storage regulations into the Controlled Activities Regulations (CAR) and extend them to include storage in depots for the onward distribution of oil.

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