Mitigating Flood Risk at Ashlands School, Ilkley, with BioScapes' SuDS Units
Mitigating Flood Risk at Ashlands School, Ilkley, with BioScapes' SuDS Units
Project overview
4 x High Attenuation SuDS planters specified by Groundwork Yorkshire, in association with Yorkshire Water
Total attenuation capacity: 1.4m³
Outflow rate: 0.05 litres per second, capable of delaying a flood peak by 11 minutes during a 1 in 10-year storm event.
Roof area: 380m2
Expected biodiversity uplift: on average, BioScapes planters achieve a 7-fold increase in biodiversity when compared to a nearby landscaped area.
Challenge
Ashlands Primary School, located in Ilkley, West Yorkshire, faced a significant flood risk due to its location and the volume of water runoff from the school roof. The challenge was to manage rainwater in a sustainable way while also meeting environmental regulations for stormwater management. The school’s limited access for offloading and installation presented further challenges, requiring a flexible, efficient solution.
Solution
BioScapes, a leader in sustainable water management solutions, was approached to provide a flood mitigation solution that could also offer educational benefits for pupils and support local biodiversity. BioScapes supplied and delivered four high attenuation SuDS (Sustainable Drainage Systems), in anthracite and black colourways. Due to limited access to the site, the flat-pack option was recommended and a team from BioScapes delivered and assembled the units.
The four SuDS units have a combined attenuation capacity of 1.4m³, making a valuable contribution to the school’s stormwater management needs.
Collaborative approach
The project was supported financially by Yorkshire Water as part of their wider commitment to protecting communities from surface water flooding, alongside their work to reduce pollution of natural water courses, with water filtration being another key capability of the BioScapes SuDS planter.
Mark Gregory, Project Manager on Yorkshire Water’s Innovation Team, said: “We were very happy to work with BioScapes at Ashlands. They were able to provide an excellent solution which not only “slows the flow” into our wastewater network but also enhances local biodiversity and provides environmental education to the children as well.”
BioScapes worked closely with architects at Groundwork Yorkshire to ensure the surrounding area was landscaped suitably to accommodate the SuDS units, sourcing a contractor to lay paving prior to the installation of the units, to make the setup was as seamless as possible.
Peter Murphy, Operations Director for Groundwork Yorkshire explained: “Our initial plans were to develop a rain garden at the school. However, understandable concerns regarding the on-going maintenance implications of the garden led to us seeking alternative solutions that would help with rainwater retention and enhance the biodiversity of their grounds. The BioScapes SuDS planters provided a low maintenance solution that still met the project objectives.”
To address the specific flow rate and volume of water calculated to pass through the downpipes, BioScapes recommended a cautious approach to diverting water into the SuDS units. This approach allowed only partial flow from the downpipes, with the inclusion of flow diverters to manage extreme flows. The diverters are equipped with built-in debris collectors to reduce material entering the drainage system, ensuring that the SuDS units will continue to perform efficiently in the long term.
Biodiversity support and educational opportunities
Beyond flood mitigation, the installation of the SuDS units offered a unique opportunity to engage the pupils in nature-based solutions. BioScapes’ Head of Nature-based Solutions, Terry Smithson, led workshops for the pupils introducing them to the role of SuDS in managing rainwater while supporting local biodiversity. The workshop included a bug hunt and the release of invertebrates into the units, fostering a sense of ownership and environmental stewardship.
The incorporation of wildflowers into the SuDS units created habitats for local wildlife, enhancing the ecological value of the school grounds. The units not only manage water but also serve as living classrooms, supporting curriculum-linked learning and raising awareness about sustainability, water management and biodiversity.
Kate Rowe, Operations Manager at Ashlands Primary School, shared her gratitude for the project:
“Can I just thank everyone for all the work that has been done in supplying and installing these planters, including the initial conversations about the rain garden. The children really enjoyed the sessions, they were fun and informative and I have had some lovely parental feedback.”
Outcome:
Through a collaborative effort with Yorkshire Water, Groundwork Yorkshire and BioScapes, Ashlands School now benefits from a sustainable, functional and educational water management solution that can serve as a model for other schools across Yorkshire. This project highlights the importance of integrating nature-based solutions into urban planning and school environments, providing long-term environmental and educational benefits.
