Amenity: delivering value for society

Amenity in contemporary thinking and design is closely associated with services provided, aesthetics, nature and biodiversity preservation, recreation, leisure and pleasure and attractiveness. One way to assess amenity is via regular inspections to identify the performance of sustainable urban drainage systems (SuDS) in matters of maintenance, aesthetics, biodiversity present and use by the public. Another way to identify the amenity of SuDS is by collecting and analysing public views, rendering assessment of amenity more qualitative rather than quantitative. Public perception surveys of SuDS ponds and wetlands in the UK identified the need for the design of urban water bodies in the landscape to have amenity in mind. Perceptions of SuDS seem to depend on where the balance of the argument is, flood prevention, amenity or water quality improvements. Design of SuDS is therefore seen as a key component when influencing attitudes towards amenity.