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 …

Soaking up ideas

The UK and China are transferring knowledge and ideas on flooding and sustainable development.

The first stage of a Newton-funded collaboration between the Centre of Ecology and Hydrology (CEH) and the Changjiang River Scientific Research Institute (CRSRI) was the UK-China

FLOOD!

When water levels rise, communities need enough warning to reduce risk to life and property.

Flood warning systems aim to give at least two hours advance warning of flooding. Critical time for people to move valuables out of water’s reach …

Drainage not draining your resources

Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) are critical to the success of planning applications in the UK. SuDS must be considered at all stages, from outline feasibility to detailed design features and pipework.

The challenge

Drainage is a rapidly changing space in …

Facing the storm

Modelling large catchments is not for the fainthearted.

In particular, different storm events across the reaches of a catchment affect the volume of flood water differently.

For modelling to be effective, it must simultaneously model short peaky rainfall events and …

The tide is high

The world’s oceans are rising.

Sea-level rise brings greater coastal flood risk and coastal erosion. Coastal properties, livelihoods and infrastructure are all threatened.

Since 1990, the global mean sea level has risen 20 cm because of:

  • meltwater from ice sheets

Planning for floods

Floods are our most damaging and frequent natural hazard. Strategic flood risk assessments give the essential overview needed to guide development choices.

Given the significance of floods as a hazard, flood risk assessment is crucial to spatial planning, determining both …

It’s a rollercoaster!

Managing the risk of coastal flooding is a hugely complex challenge. Greater statistical analysis is needed to guide design standards for defences.

A sea of troubles

Communities have made their homes in coastal locations around the UK for centuries. They …

Once more unto the breach

Llanfairfechan and the Kinmel Bay area have been flooded in recent decades, with coastal defences overwhelmed. WHS studied the risks for the future.

Please click here to watch a video of the flooding of Towyn, North Wales in 1990:

Conwy

Wellbeing for Wales

In April 2015, the Well-being of Future Generations Act (FGA) came into law to create a Wales that people want to live in, now and in the future.

The FGA was the first legislation in the world to link with …