The greater good
The Water Framework Directive 2000 (WFD) commits EU member states to achieve ‘good’ qualitative and quantitative status of all water bodies by 2015. Post-Brexit, the WFD has been fully transposed into UK law.
Focusing on phosphates
Clean, healthy water is essential for the environment. Excess nutrients are a threat to water quality and phosphates are of particular concern. New guidance focuses on the impact developments have on phosphate levels and sets new targets.
Phosphates are nutrients …
Rising seas
It is almost certain that sea levels will rise by at least one metre because of climate change. Our coastlines will change too. We must prepare for this.
Sea-level rise is one of the major challenges identified in Global warming …
Keeping things on track
The detailed hydraulic modelling by WHS supported the development of a successful Flood Risk Assessment for the East West Railway.
How WHS was involved
The East West Railway Project is a significant infrastructure development to establish a direct rail connection …
The devil’s in the detail
Our hydraulic models have an eye for the detail, but this planner’s guide won’t give you an earful of jargon.
The limits of regulator flood maps
Flood maps hosted by the environmental regulators of England, Scotland and Wales can provide …
A natural progression
In England, in the summer floods of 2007, around 55,000 properties were flooded and nearly 500,000 people were left without water or electricity. After this, whole-catchment responses to flood management were required, including changes to upland land use.
Whole-catchment responses …
The future for TAN 15
We provide our views on the proposed changes to planning policy for flood risk in Wales, due to be finalised in September 2020.
TAN 15 revisited
As we reported last time, TAN 15 was first released in 2004. Much has …
TAN 15 revisited
Technical Advice Note (TAN) 15 guides planners, developers, local authorities and flood-risk specialists on development, flooding and coastal erosion in Wales. An update was released on October 2019.
Technical Advice Notes (TANs) have been released by the Welsh government to …
Ask first!
All rivers in the UK evolve continuously and almost all show signs of construction work. It is vital that activities are regulated to safeguard against ecological deterioration and flooding.
This applies to all activities, from hydroelectric power schemes in the …
Future growth. Future climate. Future proof.
Water cycle studies are key to enabling a healthy relationship between future growth and the water environment.
Housing demand continues to outstrip supply in the UK; future development is inevitable. It is essential that local planning authorities plan for sustainable …