Bradford Council officers nominated for national flooding design awards

Article dated Monday Jun 26, 2023 at 04:02 PM

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Two members of the Council’s Landscape, Design and Conservation Team have been shortlisted for a national award in recognition of their work to help prevent flooding and mitigate the effects of climate change.

Dr Saira Ali, Team Leader of the Landscape, Design and Conservation and Andrew Mindham, a Gateway Officer and Landscape Architect, have both been nominated for the annual SUSDRAIN SuDS Champion Awards recognise that high quality sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) and those who inspire, inform and influence good practice.

SUSDRAIN is a professional community that provides a range of resources for those involved in delivering SuDS. SuDS help to manage flood risk and water quality, as well as improving biodiversity and amenity, along with a host of other benefits to create great places to live, work and play.

They are a key tool dealing with the changing climate, especially in urban areas where there is no natural way for flood water to be absorbed or to drain off. They can be created in a number of ways, such as installing ditches to divert water flow, ponds, wetlands or permeable paving. 

Saira won the 2021 ‘Raising Star’ category of the SUSDRAIN SuDS Champion Awards. This year she has been nominated for ‘Established Professional’ category by Paul Shaffer, Director of Innovation and Delivery at the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management.

​Saira has been shortlisted in recognition of her work championing SuDS and going the extra mile by delivering SuDS that create greener, healthier and more prosperous communities.

Andrew has been nominated for the ‘Rising Star’ category by Louise Page, Marketing Manager, GreenBlue Urban.

Andrew has been shortlisted in recognition for working on a range of SUDs schemes with Bradford Council for nearly four years, focusing on delivering innovative solutions on the ground that deliver multiple benefits of *blue and green infrastructure.

In their work together in the Landscape, Design and Conservation Team they have brought SuDS innovation into a number of schemes. The Top of Town Public Realm Improvement Scheme has street trees and raingardens as a nature based solution to SuDS. The North Street Keighley SuDS Scheme aids drainage and encourages biodiversity, as will the Great Horton Junction improvement scheme which is on site.  An ongoing LIFE Critical project at Horton Park, is part of the EU Life Programme supporting environmental, nature conservation and climate action projects.

The team often works to attract additional funding and resources to support its ambitions for innovating and delivering blue green infrastructure projects to mitigate climate change.

Cllr Alex Ross-Shaw, Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Transport and Planning, said: “I am delighted that two of our officers have been nominated for these national awards.  Saira and Andrew are really passionate about their work and what it can do for Bradford. This nomination highlights the great, innovative work going on to make our district more sustainable.”

The award winners will be selected via a public vote and the winners will be announced at a ceremony on 13 July. You can vote until 30 June for Saira and Andrew here.

Note:

*Blue infrastructure is water-related solutions, such as ponds and drainage and green infrastructure is things like adding trees and plants to a project.

Pictured above: Horton Park where the LIFE Critical Project is taking place.

 

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