Green Recovery
Helping fund the provision of SuDS components in Altrincham.
Rainwater Management
We’re redesigning how rainwater is managed across the North West – using nature and smart engineering to reshape places and strengthen resilience.
Together with communities and local partners, we’re creating greener streets, richer habitats and inspiring spaces for people to live, work and explore.
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What is Rainwater Management?
Across the North West, we’re turning a regional rainfall challenge into an opportunity to enhance places, strengthen resilience and unlock environmental and social value.
Rainwater Management is a forward‑looking approach that blends natural processes with engineered design to manage rainfall where it falls. Instead of directing water straight into the sewer network, we create landscapes that hold, filter, slow and reuse rainwater.
By integrating features such as raingardens, permeable surfaces, tree pits and sustainable drainage into streets, schools, business districts and public spaces, we can:
- reduce pressure on the combined sewer system
- lower flood and spill risks
- improve climate resilience
- enhance biodiversity and green space
- create more attractive, accessible and future‑ready environments
This approach is about re‑imagining how places function – helping communities and organisations meet shared challenges while delivering long‑lasting environmental and social benefits.
Rainwater Management complements our traditional infrastructure and aligns with wider regeneration, planning and climate strategies. Together, these approaches are helping shape a stronger, greener and more sustainable region.
Why do we need Rainwater Management?
Reimagining Our Urban Spaces
- 🌿From Grey to Green: Transform hard, impermeable surfaces into vibrant green spaces.
- 🏙️Greener Buildings: Rooftops become living gardens overflowing with vegetation.
- 🌳Nature on the High Street: Parks and planting woven through busy streets.
- 💧Water in Harmony: Rainwater guided through calm, controlled urban brooks instead of causing disruption.
- 🌱An Urban Jungle: A beautiful, functional North West where nature and city life work together.
- 🎯Our Goal: A greener, healthier and more resilient region where rainwater is managed naturally — benefiting communities and the environment.
Our Programme
Our flagship £280 million Rainwater Management Programme is delivering large‑scale, nature‑based solutions across towns, cities and catchments – creating healthier, climate‑ready places and reducing pressure on our wastewater network. It also forms a key part of our £13 billion region‑wide infrastructure upgrade.
We’re working with local authorities, community organisations, developers and regional partners to bring projects to life, aligning Rainwater Management
with broader ambitions for growth, net zero, active travel and placemaking.
The programme includes:
Nature‑based designs that enhance places
Raingardens, blue–green corridors, permeable streets, thoughtful planting, blue–green roofs and public realm improvements that create more vibrant,
resilient spaces.
Solutions that support our wastewater network
By reducing rainfall entering the combined sewer system, these projects lower spill and flood risks and help protect essential infrastructure.
Investment that delivers wider value
Each scheme is designed to create multiple benefits — from biodiversity and carbon reduction to improved wellbeing, learning, recreation and economic
regeneration.
Collaborative delivery
We combine engineering expertise with local insight, creating integrated solutions that reflect community priorities and support long‑term planning.
We’re on a mission to make the most of the region’s plentiful rainfall — using nature and engineering to create places that are better for people, wildlife and the environment. This innovative programme is helping to build a stronger, greener and healthier North West, and we’re excited to work with partners who share this vision.
How we manage rain
Capture
We capture rain to stop downhill flooding through Natural Flood Management schemes.
Attenuate
We use rainwater management solutions to slow the flow of water entering sewers.
Disconnect
We disconnect surface water from our combined sewer system and direct it to rivers and canals.
Reuse
We help communities use rainwater for everyday tasks like watering plants and cleaning cars.
Partner with us
Join us by applying for funding to create a more resilient North West together
By working in partnership, we can deliver our best rainwater management solutions. Collaboration enables us to pool expertise, align with local priorities, and co-invest in infrastructure that enhances climate resilience through nature-based solutions, reduce pressure on our wastewater network and protect communities.
Together, we can unlock long-term benefits for the communities we serve and achieve our shared vision for a stronger, greener and healthier North West.
Case studies
Property Level Trials
How we're protecting housing with SuDS planters in Lower Peover.
SuDS for Schools
How we're protecting schools from flooding using SuDS.
Staveley SuDS pods
Installing SuDS equipment to reduce spills.
Collaboration in Bridgewater
Showcasing different SuDS methods for a more resilient space.
Unpave the Way Partnership
Transforming gardens to be more resilient and sustainable.