A sustainable drainage system designed to reduce surface water flooding, store rainwater and create new green space has been installed at a primary school in Oxford and is already delivering benefits during periods of heavy rainfall.
The bespoke system has been introduced at New Hinksey CE Primary School as part of a wider programme to improve flood resilience in the city. The project was funded through the Department for Education’s contribution to the Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme.
Oxford City Council, a partner in the scheme, worked with sustainable drainage specialist Sudsplanter Ltd to install 11 purpose-built planters within the school grounds. Each planter contains specially selected plants and flowers, which pupils will help to care for as part of their learning.
Reducing flooding and creating green space
The SuDS planters have already demonstrated their value by reducing surface water flooding during heavy rain. The school is located in a river valley and is vulnerable to flooding from the River Thames and its tributaries, as well as sewer flooding during intense rainfall when drainage systems become overwhelmed.
Tamsin Smyth, Headteacher at New Hinksey CE Primary School, said the project has had a positive impact on both the school and the wider community.
“The SuDSPlanters are making a real difference to our school and our community; improving drainage, reducing flood risk, and encouraging wildlife,” she said. “They’ve turned hard surfaces into living classrooms where our pupils learn about sustainability first-hand. We’re proud to be helping create a greener, more resilient urban environment.”
How the system works
SuDS planter systems are designed for hard-surfaced areas such as playgrounds, sports pitches and car parks. At New Hinksey, rainwater runoff from roofs is redirected via rerouted downpipes into the planters rather than flowing directly into the drainage network.
Water is absorbed by the plants and filtered through a downloader system of layers that act as both a sponge and a natural filter. The water is then stored temporarily and released slowly back into the drainage system, reducing pressure on sewers and lowering flood risk during heavy rainfall.
The planters also help build resilience to dry periods by storing water that can be gradually released into the soil when conditions are drier.
Measured benefits
The New Hinksey installation has created more than 4.5 cubic metres of water storage on site and incorporates around 7,500 kilograms of specialist SuDS soil. In total, the project has delivered 11 square metres of new green space within the school playground, supporting biodiversity and habitat creation alongside flood mitigation.
Lorna Davis, Director at Sudsplanter, said the early results have been encouraging.
“It’s always rewarding to work in a school, but it’s extra special when you learn the SuDSPlanters have already proved their worth,” she said. “They’ve reduced the severity of surface water flooding in the playgrounds, improved accessibility, and created new green spaces that will help plants, insects and pupils flourish for years to come.”
Supporting wider flood resilience
Councillor Anna Railton, Deputy Leader of Oxford City Council and Cabinet Member for Zero Carbon Oxford, said the scheme demonstrates the value of practical, nature-based solutions.
“New Hinksey is one of the areas in Oxford that’s particularly vulnerable to flooding, so it’s great to see practical solutions like these making a difference locally,” she said. “They don’t just manage rainwater – they also bring biodiversity into the school grounds and help inspire the next generation to think about adapting to climate change.”
Emma Formoy, from the Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme at the Environment Agency, added that initiatives addressing surface water flooding are critical in urban environments.
“The Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme will reduce flood risk from the River Thames, but it’s vital to consider all sources of flooding,” she said. “Projects like this help capture rainfall and reduce surface water flooding, which is especially important in built-up areas.”
Schools are particularly vulnerable to flooding due to extensive hard surfaces. In 2021, the UK Government warned that nearly 15,000 schools could face significant flood risk by 2050 as a result of climate change.
Sudsplanter has supplied systems to hundreds of schools across the UK in recent years, with projects funded through the Department for Education’s SuDS in Schools programme and by water companies including Yorkshire Water and Southern Water as part of flood prevention and storm overflow reduction strategies.
