The regeneration project at Cardiff’s Canal Quarter has been honoured at a prominent UK awards ceremony for its innovative use of sustainable drainage, officials confirmed. The scheme picked up the Welsh Project and Schedule 3 Spotlight Award at this year’s Susdrain SuDS Awards, a new category created to showcase successful SuDS delivery in Wales.
SuDS meeting wider regeneration goals
Judges commended the Canal Quarter for delivering environmental and amenity gains while managing surface water in a dense city-centre setting. The recognition focuses on how the project has combined flood mitigation, improved water quality and biodiversity enhancements with hard public-realm improvements intended to attract investment to the area.
The scheme was funded by Cardiff Council, designed by AtkinsRéalis and built by contractor Knights Brown. Representatives from the project team collected the award in Newcastle upon Tyne on 24 June.
“We are pleased that the Canal Quarter has been recognised with this national award,”
The comment was made by Cllr Dan De’Ath, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Sustainable Planning and Transport, who said the project demonstrates how SuDS can do more than control surface water: they can enhance public spaces and support wider investment in the city centre.
Schedule 3 and local implications
The award highlights Cardiff’s role in implementing Schedule 3 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 in Wales. Schedule 3 sets expectations for sustainable drainage systems to manage surface water in new developments and urban areas, a key tool in adapting to increased rainfall and urban flooding risk.
- Project partners: Cardiff Council, AtkinsRéalis, Knights Brown
- Award: Welsh Project and Schedule 3 Spotlight Award at Susdrain SuDS Awards
- Award date: 24 June
Local officials say the Canal Quarter’s SuDS elements — from permeable surfaces to integrated water-management features — have improved biodiversity and created a more resilient public realm. The scheme has been touted as a model for how flood risk management can be incorporated into regeneration rather than treated as a separate engineering task.
What this means for Cardiff residents
For residents, the practical outcomes are intended to be reduced flood risk for properties and public areas, better water quality entering the city’s waterways, and enhanced green spaces. For the council, the recognition underlines the case for using SuDS as part of future development briefs and public-space projects, particularly as authorities face the twin pressures of development and climate resilience.
| Aspect | Impact |
|---|---|
| Flood management | Reduced surface-water runoff and lower flood risk |
| Biodiversity | Improved habitats within urban public realm |
| Regeneration | Stimulated investment and new public space |
As councils across Wales and the UK look to meet Schedule 3 requirements and adapt urban areas for a changing climate, the Canal Quarter’s award will be watched locally as evidence that sustainable drainage can be a central feature of successful city-centre renewal schemes.
