Implementation of Urban NbS –for Planners, Developers and Developer Agents
About this good practice
Action 58 of the Tipperary County Council (TCC) Local Authority Climate Action Plan 2024 -2029 identified the need to develop and implement a Nature-based solutions (NbS) protocol for Council and private sector projects.
TCC explored with LAWPRO the opportunity for collaboration in developing guidelines. LAWPRO work on behalf of Irish local authorities, protecting and restoring good water quality .
LAWPRO started work on the guidelines in June 2024. They established a working group including TCC and Kilkenny County Council.
The guidance is an easy to use tool kit for the practical implementation of NbS SUDS including
• System Design
• NbS principles
• Case Studies Comparing traditional systems and NbS
• Ongoing Management
• Health and Safety
• Technical Appendices
TCC will ensure the implementation through the planning development process. It is expected that NbS are part of the design included in the planning application as per the Tipperary County Development Plan 2022 -2028 which requires the implementation of water sensitive urban design as an integral part of the design of new developments in all areas of the county and to ensure that all storm water generated is disposed of on-site or is attenuated and treated prior to discharge to an approved storm water system. The stakeholders are TCC who are using the guidance to implement solutions, KCC, LAWPRO, developers and the local residents through reduced flood risk, improved water quality and increased biodiversity.
Resources needed
The project team consisted of 3 LAWPRO staff and 2 external consultants. The project took 4 months. There were 2 workshops with 18 stakeholder groups contributing to the guidelines. The total budget was €43,000.
Evidence of success
Tipperary County Council have constructed 7 NbS SUDS as part of their own civil works. Two in Carrick, 4 in Clonmel and 1 in Fethard. The bog field project manages flood water during storms with swales and ponds. The project increases on site biodiversity and protects a special area of conservation from pollution by filtering out pollutants before they reach the river. The river contains rare fish. 2 private developments have included permeable paving in their project design
Potential for learning or transfer
The 31 local authorities in Ireland have pooled their resources to create a specialist water quality office called LAWPRO. As LAWPRO is part of the local authority system it can work in collaboration with all local authorities. Tipperary County Council identified the lack NbS practical guideline to the implementation of its NbS policy in its County Development Plan. LAWPRO as the relevant NbS expert group where able to lead a project in collaboration with Tipperary County Council and Kilkenny County Council in developing practical solutions to the implementation to the NbS policy. Leading 7 pilot projects being funded in Tipperary.
Other regions could use this model to influence their policies to encourage collaboration between water and flood experts, planners and developers to develop local best practice based on their weather patterns and natural environments
Further information
Images
Documents
Implementation of Urban NbSGuidance Document for Planners, Developers and Developer Agents.pdf
Website
Good practice owner
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