GreenBlue Urban partnered with the Norfolk and Suffolk County Council’s ‘Reclaim the Rain’ joint initiative to implement innovative sustainable drainage solutions across rural communities.
GreenBlue Urban successfully delivered over fifteen SuDSPods across five schools in Norfolk and Suffolk, with additional community installations at Boxford Bowls Club, the Scouts and Guides Spinney hut, and village facilities. The implementation resulted in reduced localised flood risk and decreased pressure on existing drainage networks, while simultaneously enhancing educational opportunities and community engagement.
This project demonstrates how nature-based SuDSPods can effectively manage surface water flooding while providing educational and biodiversity benefits in school and community settings. The installations have also improved biodiversity and amenity value across all participating communities and as part of a wider initiative to improve sustainable drainage in these areas.
Project Background
Norfolk and Suffolk face a unique water management challenge: the counties experience considerable surface water flood risk while simultaneously being part of the driest region in the UK. Traditional drainage approaches were failing to address this dual challenge of flood risk and water scarcity.
A new solution was proposed. The Reclaim the Rain project, funded by Anglian Water, aimed to demonstrate that flood water has value as a resource and can generate investment in its management and reuse. The initiative focused on implementing sustainable water management solutions that could reduce flood risk through natural flood management and retrofitted SuDS, with the aim to capture and reuse surface water runoff for agriculture, industry, and community use, as well as engaging communities to increase resilience and local knowledge, and provide evidence for policy development and future investment.
Partnership Development
In March 2024, GreenBlue Urban was invited by the Reclaim the Rain team to present at Watton on integrating green spaces with excess water management in urban environments. As industry leaders with over 30 years of combined experience in sustainable urban drainage systems (SuDS) and green infrastructure, GreenBlue Urban were able to provide expertise on how green spaces can be seamlessly retrofitted integrated with stormwater management strategies using various solutions.
Following this meeting, SuDSPod was chosen for its dual-purpose design that seamlessly combines effective stormwater management with urban greening, perfectly aligning with the integrated approach discussed.
Project
Location
Contractor
Landscape Architect
GreenBlue Urban partnered with the Norfolk and Suffolk County Council’s ‘Reclaim the Rain’ joint initiative to implement innovative sustainable drainage solutions across rural communities.
GreenBlue Urban successfully delivered over fifteen SuDSPods across five schools in Norfolk and Suffolk, with additional community installations at Boxford Bowls Club, the Scouts and Guides Spinney hut, and village facilities. The implementation resulted in reduced localised flood risk and decreased pressure on existing drainage networks, while simultaneously enhancing educational opportunities and community engagement.
This project demonstrates how nature-based SuDSPods can effectively manage surface water flooding while providing educational and biodiversity benefits in school and community settings. The installations have also improved biodiversity and amenity value across all participating communities and as part of a wider initiative to improve sustainable drainage in these areas.
Project Background
Norfolk and Suffolk face a unique water management challenge: the counties experience considerable surface water flood risk while simultaneously being part of the driest region in the UK. Traditional drainage approaches were failing to address this dual challenge of flood risk and water scarcity.
A new solution was proposed. The Reclaim the Rain project, funded by Anglian Water, aimed to demonstrate that flood water has value as a resource and can generate investment in its management and reuse. The initiative focused on implementing sustainable water management solutions that could reduce flood risk through natural flood management and retrofitted SuDS, with the aim to capture and reuse surface water runoff for agriculture, industry, and community use, as well as engaging communities to increase resilience and local knowledge, and provide evidence for policy development and future investment.
Partnership Development
In March 2024, GreenBlue Urban was invited by the Reclaim the Rain team to present at Watton on integrating green spaces with excess water management in urban environments. As industry leaders with over 30 years of combined experience in sustainable urban drainage systems (SuDS) and green infrastructure, GreenBlue Urban were able to provide expertise on how green spaces can be seamlessly retrofitted integrated with stormwater management strategies using various solutions.
Following this meeting, SuDSPod was chosen for its dual-purpose design that seamlessly combines effective stormwater management with urban greening, perfectly aligning with the integrated approach discussed.
Project
Location
Contractor
Landscape Architect
Project
Location
Contractor
Landscape Architect
The SuDSPod Solution
SuDSPods are self-contained, above-ground rain planters that capture rainwater, slow runoff, and support biodiversity while providing hands-on learning experiences in school and community environments. These modular, nature-based units are designed to manage rainfall where it lands, reduce flow rates into drainage networks, lessen flood risk, filter rainwater before it enters sewers, and provide biodiversity and local amenity benefits.
The SuDSPods feature a modular design that makes them easy to install and configure for different locations, while providing significant educational value through hands-on learning opportunities for students. The planted areas enhance biodiversity by supporting local wildlife and pollinators, and the units can be customised with bespoke graphics and designs to engage communities. Additionally, the systems are multi-functional and can include integrated benches, irrigation features, and aesthetic elements to serve multiple community needs.
SuDSPods effectively manage stormwater by holding back flows and attenuating water on-site to prevent increased flood risk. The system’s patented three-chamber internal flow control design enables it to reduce peak flow rates by up to 76% during a typical 15-minute, 1-year summer storm, demonstrating its capability as an on-plot attenuation solution.
School and Community Implementation
The first phase focused on educational institutions across both counties in October 2024. In Norfolk, installations included four SuDSPods at Woodton School, two at Watton Junior, three at Wayland Academy, and three at Thompson School. Suffolk received three SuDSPods at Boxford School. These installations featured special design elements including funnel features with playful cloud imagery and incorporated student-designed graphics through a competition, while being integrated into each school’s educational curriculum.
The second phase in November expanded into broader community applications with installations at Boxford Bowls Club featuring specialised irrigation capabilities, the Scouts and Guides Spinney Hut, Friston Chequers with integrated bench seating, and Friston Village Hall with distinctive aesthetic green staining. Each installation was customised to meet the specific needs and priorities of the individual community organisation.
Installation Process and Support
The installation process was managed by GreenBlue Urban, who undertook comprehensive site surveys and planning, site setup with appropriate safety measures, debris clearance and ground preparation where required. The team then completed assembly of the SuDSPod and connection to existing downpipes, followed by soil laying and appropriate plant installation, concluding with quality assurance checks and formal handover to the communities. In addition, comprehensive technical support was provided, including pre-installation site surveys and suitability assessments, detailed technical specifications for SuDSPod installations, and ongoing technical support and monitoring guidance throughout the project lifecycle.
The SuDSPod Solution
SuDSPods are self-contained, above-ground rain planters that capture rainwater, slow runoff, and support biodiversity while providing hands-on learning experiences in school and community environments. These modular, nature-based units are designed to manage rainfall where it lands, reduce flow rates into drainage networks, lessen flood risk, filter rainwater before it enters sewers, and provide biodiversity and local amenity benefits.
The SuDSPods feature a modular design that makes them easy to install and configure for different locations, while providing significant educational value through hands-on learning opportunities for students. The planted areas enhance biodiversity by supporting local wildlife and pollinators, and the units can be customised with bespoke graphics and designs to engage communities. Additionally, the systems are multi-functional and can include integrated benches, irrigation features, and aesthetic elements to serve multiple community needs.
SuDSPods effectively manage stormwater by holding back flows and attenuating water on-site to prevent increased flood risk. The system’s patented three-chamber internal flow control design enables it to reduce peak flow rates by up to 76% during a typical 15-minute, 1-year summer storm, demonstrating its capability as an on-plot attenuation solution.
School and Community Implementation
The first phase focused on educational institutions across both counties in October 2024. In Norfolk, installations included four SuDSPods at Woodton School, two at Watton Junior, three at Wayland Academy, and three at Thompson School. Suffolk received three SuDSPods at Boxford School. These installations featured special design elements including funnel features with playful cloud imagery and incorporated student-designed graphics through a competition, while being integrated into each school’s educational curriculum.
The second phase in November expanded into broader community applications with installations at Boxford Bowls Club featuring specialised irrigation capabilities, the Scouts and Guides Spinney Hut, Friston Chequers with integrated bench seating, and Friston Village Hall with distinctive aesthetic green staining. Each installation was customised to meet the specific needs and priorities of the individual community organisation.
Installation Process and Support
The installation process was managed by GreenBlue Urban, who undertook comprehensive site surveys and planning, site setup with appropriate safety measures, debris clearance and ground preparation where required. The team then completed assembly of the SuDSPod and connection to existing downpipes, followed by soil laying and appropriate plant installation, concluding with quality assurance checks and formal handover to the communities. In addition, comprehensive technical support was provided, including pre-installation site surveys and suitability assessments, detailed technical specifications for SuDSPod installations, and ongoing technical support and monitoring guidance throughout the project lifecycle.
Outcomes and Benefits
The SuDSPod installations will help with a reduction in the pooling of water on hardstanding areas around schools and community facilities, while decreasing pressure on existing drainage networks during storm events. This will lead to improved overall resilience to surface water flooding across all participating communities, along with enhanced local biodiversity through carefully selected native planting schemes that support local pollinators and wildlife.
The project has also created valuable hands-on learning opportunities for students across multiple schools, while increasing broader community awareness of sustainable water management principles. Student engagement has been particularly strong through design competitions and curriculum integration, fostering a new generation of environmentally conscious citizens.
Participating communities have provided consistently strong positive feedback about their installations, demonstrating increased understanding of sustainable water management principles and developing genuine local ownership and pride in their new facilities. The project has successfully demonstrated how community-led environmental solutions can be both practical and inspiring.
Wider Project Integration
The SuDSPod installations formed part of a comprehensive sustainable water management approach by Reclaim the Rain that included rain gardens and bog gardens for enhanced water retention, tree pit installations supported by detailed flood risk modelling, vegetable planters and swales for productive water use, dead hedges for habitat creation and natural boundaries, and sensory gardens designed specifically for educational purposes.
In Watton, GreenBlue Urban also conducted detailed High Street surveys. This technical work resulted in updated area mapping, comprehensive feasibility modelling for strategic tree pit placement, and evidence-based location selection designed to maximise flood risk benefits for the entire High Street area.
Key Success Factors
The project’s success was built on strong collaboration between Reclaim the Rain, GreenBlue Urban and local communities, underpinned by thorough pre-installation surveys and detailed planning processes. Quality installation standards were maintained throughout and ongoing technical guidance from GreenBlue Urban, with appropriate site-specific adaptations made for each unique location.
Community involvement in both design and planning processes proved essential for creating solutions that truly met local needs and priorities. The integration of educational components significantly enhanced the long-term value of each installation, while student involvement in design processes created genuine ownership and enthusiasm. The consistently positive community feedback and rapid adoption of the new systems demonstrated the importance of meaningful community engagement from project inception.
Outcomes and Benefits
The SuDSPod installations will help with a reduction in the pooling of water on hardstanding areas around schools and community facilities, while decreasing pressure on existing drainage networks during storm events. This will lead to improved overall resilience to surface water flooding across all participating communities, along with enhanced local biodiversity through carefully selected native planting schemes that support local pollinators and wildlife.
The project has also created valuable hands-on learning opportunities for students across multiple schools, while increasing broader community awareness of sustainable water management principles. Student engagement has been particularly strong through design competitions and curriculum integration, fostering a new generation of environmentally conscious citizens.
Participating communities have provided consistently strong positive feedback about their installations, demonstrating increased understanding of sustainable water management principles and developing genuine local ownership and pride in their new facilities. The project has successfully demonstrated how community-led environmental solutions can be both practical and inspiring.
Wider Project Integration
The SuDSPod installations formed part of a comprehensive sustainable water management approach by Reclaim the Rain that included rain gardens and bog gardens for enhanced water retention, tree pit installations supported by detailed flood risk modelling, vegetable planters and swales for productive water use, dead hedges for habitat creation and natural boundaries, and sensory gardens designed specifically for educational purposes.
In Watton, GreenBlue Urban also conducted detailed High Street surveys. This technical work resulted in updated area mapping, comprehensive feasibility modelling for strategic tree pit placement, and evidence-based location selection designed to maximise flood risk benefits for the entire High Street area.
Key Success Factors
The project’s success was built on strong collaboration between Reclaim the Rain, GreenBlue Urban and local communities, underpinned by thorough pre-installation surveys and detailed planning processes. Quality installation standards were maintained throughout and ongoing technical guidance from GreenBlue Urban, with appropriate site-specific adaptations made for each unique location.
Community involvement in both design and planning processes proved essential for creating solutions that truly met local needs and priorities. The integration of educational components significantly enhanced the long-term value of each installation, while student involvement in design processes created genuine ownership and enthusiasm. The consistently positive community feedback and rapid adoption of the new systems demonstrated the importance of meaningful community engagement from project inception.
