The CIRIA susdrain SuDS Awards 2024 recently reached a thrilling conclusion at a ceremony hosted by Arup in Cardiff.
Launched in 2018, the awards highlight projects that have demonstrably gone ‘the extra mile’ to deliver and encourage the uptake of SuDS. With nine winners, ten highly commended projects and one overall winner gaining recognition it was a fitting finale to the 2024 awards celebration.
Ciria announced this year’s overall winner was Luton Borough Council’s, ‘SuDS in Schools – William Austin Junior School, Luton’, a project that shows a change in mindset by using surface water as a resource rather than something to be disposed of, and in doing so raises the bar for SuDS in schools to the next level.
Upon winning the award Louise Bower, Strategic Flood and Water Manager, Luton Borough Council said:
“It’s fantastic for Luton to be recognised as an overall winner in the susdrain SuDS Awards. We are enormously proud of delivering this project which isn’t just sustainable drainage but water reuse as well.”
A special award was bestowed on Dr Louise Walker, Senior Research Manager, CIRIA for her Outstanding Contribution to SuDS. Louise has shown an unwavering dedication to sustainable water management with work on projects such as The natural flood management manual, CIRIA’s Benefits Estimation Tool (ciriabest), and free guide Using SuDS to reduce phosphorus in surface water runoff.
Adrien Baudrimont, Senior Research Manager, CIRIA and susdrain lead stated:
“The SuDS Awards winning projects were impressive this year, ranging from ambitious small on the plot SuDS, to large catchment-based approaches. The award categories were designed to demonstrate the art of the possible on private and public buildings through retrofitting. The response from the industry was stellar, showcasing the many benefits to nature and people rainwater can yield, when treated as a resource and not something to get rid of. Congratulations to all winners and highly commended projects.”
Dirk Vennix, Chief Executive Officer, CIRIA commented:
“CIRIA is thrilled to have showcased the outstanding achievements within our sector at the Awards. We are proud to highlight the winners who exemplify the diverse talents making significant impacts on urban green spaces throughout the UK. As new SuDS regulations approach, their work underscores the urgent need for more professionals to engage, train, and gain expertise in sustainable water management for the benefit of local communities.”
Full details of all the susdrain SuDS Awards 2024 winners and highly commended projects can be found by visiting www.susdrain.org
