Sustainable drainage for Llandovery & Newcastle Emlyn car parks
Page updated on: 19/11/2025
The Resilient Rivers Project to trial sustainable drainage (SuDS) solutions in two rural town car parks — Llandovery and Newcastle Emlyn. These schemes will slow, store and filter rainfall on site so less polluted surface water reaches drains and nearby rivers, helping protect the Teifi and Tywi Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and improving local water quality.
Why we're doing this
- Surface water runs off roads and car parks quickly, picking up oil, sediment and nutrients and delivering them to rivers.
- Introducing SuDS (for example permeable paving, bioretention planters and rain gardens) lets rain soak in where it falls — slowing flows, filtering pollutants, and reducing pressure on the sewer network during storms.
- Slowing runoff also reduces the risk of storm spills and supports conservation of the Tywi and Teifi SACs. Funding for the development phase has been provided by Natural Resources Wales.
(Technical site assessments and conceptual designs for Llandovery are available — these show proposed SuDS areas, estimated storage volumes and practical considerations to inform future detailed design.)
What types of SuDS we’re looking at
Permeable paving — paving with gaps or porous material so rain infiltrates rather than runs off.
Bioretention planters / rain gardens — planted basins that capture and filter runoff through soil and vegetation, slowly releasing the excess in a controlled way.
Surface reprofiling — small changes to ground levels so water is directed into soakaway areas.
Grasscrete / vegetated surfacing — allows vehicle use while enabling infiltration and creating greener spaces. Grasscrete is a type of paving made of concrete blocks with open cells that let grass grow through, allowing rainwater to soak into the ground instead of running off.
Channel drains — Channel drains are narrow grated drains set into the ground that catch surface water and carry it away safely.
Perforated curbs — Manages flow of rainwater through tiny gaps in the surface so it soaks away into SuDS features or existing drainage points.
Local benefits
- Fewer pollutants reaching rivers → better water quality for people and wildlife
- Reduced risk of sewer flooding and storm overflows during heavy rain
- Greener, cooler and more welcoming car parks with improved planting and seating
- Small biodiversity gains (pollinator-friendly planting, native species)
