SuDS Strategy for Residential Development — Condition Discharged, Kensington & Chelsea
We discharged a pre-commencement SuDS Strategy condition for a residential development at 3 Donne Place, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. The submission demonstrated a 50% reduction in peak discharge in line with Local Plan Policy CE2(g), incorporating climate change allowances, groundwater inflows, rainwater planters, and permeable surfacing. Full construction, operational, and maintenance details were provided alongside drainage layout plans and section drawings. The LPA approved the strategy in full with no further comment.
SuDS Strategy for Residential Development — Pre-Commencement Condition Discharged, Kensington & Chelsea
Location: 3 Donne Place, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea | Services: SuDS Strategy, Planning Condition Discharge
Project Background
Pre-commencement SuDS conditions in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea demand a high standard of technical submission. The condition at 3 Donne Place required a detailed analysis of surface water runoff and attenuation, targeting a 50% reduction in peak discharge rates in line with Local Plan Policy CE2(g) — with the full suite of evidence needed to satisfy the Local Planning Authority before any works could commence.
The site presented an additional complexity: groundwater inflows needed to be accounted for within the runoff calculations, alongside surface water contributions and climate change allowances. Omitting any of these elements would risk the council requesting further information and stalling the programme.
Our Approach
We prepared a comprehensive SuDS Strategy structured to address the condition in its entirety. Runoff calculations were carried out for existing and proposed site conditions, with climate change allowances applied and all inflow sources — including groundwater — incorporated into the assessment. The analysis demonstrated achievement of the required 50% reduction in peak discharge, providing clear quantified compliance with Policy CE2(g).
The proposed drainage solution combined two complementary SuDS measures: rainwater planters providing above-ground attenuation with associated biodiversity and amenity benefits, and permeable surfacing to manage runoff at source across hardstanding areas. Together, these formed a practical, policy-compliant drainage scheme well-suited to the constraints of a dense urban site in a sensitive borough.
The submission included full technical detail for each SuDS component — location, attenuation capacity, construction specification, operational strategy, access provisions, and long-term maintenance responsibilities. Drainage layout plans and SuDS section drawings were produced to give the LPA complete confidence in both the hydraulic performance and the physical deliverability of the scheme.
Outcome
The Local Planning Authority approved the SuDS Strategy in full with no additional comments, allowing the client to proceed to construction without delay. The submission demonstrates that with thorough technical preparation and clear policy alignment, pre-commencement drainage conditions in demanding boroughs can be discharged efficiently and without iterative back-and-forth with the council.