Sponge cities: Making our cities more climate resilient.

21st May 2026

Read time 2 min

What is a Sponge City?

Sponge Cities are urban areas that are designed to manage surface water runoff, primarily using nature-based interventions. The idea is that we help our cities work with natural water cycles, rather than coming in after the weather event. This approach is designed to relieve pressure on traditional, pre-existing drains.

By managing surface water at source, we can decrease reliance on our drains and better prepare our cities for storm conditions and water management.

This is typically done by:

Slowing down runoff from hard surfaces
Storing water temporarily during heavy rainfall
Allowing water to infiltrate into the ground where possible

Juniper Pocket Park rain gardens

Why do cities need the sponge city approach?

As the built environment expands and hard, impermeable surfaces are increasingly laid, flood risk rises. Weather patterns are becoming more and more unpredictable as global warming progresses, with rain spells only getting more intense. This leaves our cities and drains unable to cope.

This is where green and blue infrastructure comes in, as an alternative way of managing surface water runoff while also delivering wider environmental benefits.

Royal Docks corridor rain gardens

Where did the idea come from and does it work?

The Sponge City concept was first developed in China in 2015 through the Sponge City Programme as a way of addressing surface water management issues and encouraging investment in green and blue infrastructure.

Since then, sponge city principles have been applied more widely, with evidence showing they can reduce flood risk and ease pressure on drainage systems when designed and maintained properly.

Croydon Hybrid SuDS Planters

Delivering sponge cities

The sponge city concept is an approach, not a single solution. It requires collaboration between planners, designers, engineers, and communities. Retrofitting existing neighbourhoods is just as, if not more important than delivering new infrastructure.

Long-term performance is key, which means maintenance, monitoring, and ongoing management must be considered from the outset.

Want to learn more?

We're hosting an exclusive SuDS event at The Building Centre, 'How to Create a Sponge City' on the 24th March 2026.
Join us and other industry experts to explore how sponge city approaches can be delivered in practice, the challenges involved, and what’s needed to make our cities more climate resilient.

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