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Journal article

Enhancing the uptake and quality of SuDS within new housing developments

Abstract:
This study investigates how private housebuilders navigate the provision of Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SuDS) within new housing developments, focusing on the often-overlooked land acquisition and valuation processes that shape environmental decision-making. It situates SuDS provision at the intersection of three calculative domains in housebuilding—land valuation, construction costs, and maintenance liabilities. Drawing on elite interviews with volume and super housebuilders operating in Yorkshire, UK, the study shows how these domains influence the uptake of multi-benefit, nature-based drainage solutions compared to minimal “compliant” systems. The paper concludes that without mandatory, consistent regulation and clearer institutional arrangements for SuDS adoption and maintenance, developers will continue to favour minimalist, hydrologically compliant designs over multi-benefit systems. By reconceiving SuDS as market-embedded infrastructure, this study highlights the need for governance reforms that align environmental resilience goals with the economic logics of housebuilding.
Publication status:
Published
Peer review status:
Peer reviewed

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Publisher copy:
10.1080/09640568.2026.2646475

Authors

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Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0001-5289-5844
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Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0002-1611-9239
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Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
HUMS
Department:
English
Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0003-3266-1674


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Funder identifier:
https://ror.org/02b5d8509
Grant:
NE/T01394X/1
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Funder identifier:
https://ror.org/0187kwz08
Grant:
NIHR203316


Publisher:
Taylor & Francis
Journal:
Journal of Environmental Planning and Management More from this journal
Publication date:
2026-03-27
Acceptance date:
2026-03-12
DOI:
EISSN:
1360-0559
ISSN:
0964-0568


Language:
English
Keywords:
Pubs id:
2397750
Local pid:
pubs:2397750
Source identifiers:
W7141277380
Deposit date:
2026-04-01
ARK identifier:

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