Tipperary's Urban NbS Policy: From Vision to Action

As climate change intensifies across Europe, the call for practical, nature-based solutions (NbS) has never been louder. Yet, while policy often encourages sustainable approaches, local governments and developers are left wondering—what does this actually look like in practice?

In Ireland, Tipperary County Council (TCC) is offering an answer.

Together with the Local Authorities Waters Programme (LAWPRO) and Kilkenny County Council, they’ve created a comprehensive set of guidelines to support the implementation of Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS)—an essential nature-based tool for managing surface water and preventing flooding in urban areas.

These guidelines aren’t just policy statements. They’re a hands-on toolkit, born from collaboration and tailored to Ireland’s planning context.

From Plan to Practice: Why This Matters

Action 58 of Tipperary’s Local Authority Climate Action Plan 2024–2029 acknowledged a gap: although national and county-level policy encourages the use of NbS, there were few real-world examples or guidance documents to help developers and planners actually implement them.

Recognizing this need, TCC invited LAWPRO—an expert body working across all 31 Irish local authorities on water quality—to take the lead in designing something practical and usable.

The result is a robust guide covering:

• NbS and SUDS system design

• Planning and policy integration

• Real-world case studies comparing traditional and nature-based solutions

• Long-term management guidance

• Safety and technical standards

Importantly, these guidelines are now integrated into Tipperary’s planning application process, ensuring that stormwater is managed sustainably in new developments—either on-site or through approved, environmentally sound systems.

What Has Been Achieved So Far

And the results? They're already visible.

Tipperary County Council has implemented seven public NbS SUDS projects, including:

• Swales and ponds in Carrick-on-Suir, Clonmel, and Fethard

• A standout project in the “Bog Field,” which captures stormwater and filters pollutants before they reach protected rivers—home to rare fish species

Meanwhile, private developers are also beginning to follow suit, incorporating permeable paving and other NbS features in response to the new guidelines.

Why This Matters for ADAPTO and Beyond

This initiative hits at the heart of ADAPTO’s mission: empowering regions to translate high-level climate policies into grounded, effective local actions. It’s a model that other regions can learn from—not only in terms of technical content, but also the process.

Here’s what makes it particularly valuable:

• Collaborative governance: local councils and a national coordination body working together

• Stakeholder involvement: 18 groups participated in workshops shaping the content

• Practical outcomes: not just theory—real projects already delivering results

• Scalability: a model easily adapted to other environmental and governance contexts

With LAWPRO acting as a shared resource across Ireland’s local authorities, this approach has strong potential to spread nationally—and inspire similar approaches abroad.

Interested in learning more?

You can access the full toolkit and find out more about Ireland’s national NbS implementation efforts here:
Minister Noonan launches national NbS implementation strategy