{"id":50623,"date":"2026-05-06T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-06T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swecobelgium.be\/?post_type=blog&p=50623"},"modified":"2026-04-29T21:56:25","modified_gmt":"2026-04-29T19:56:25","slug":"infiltration-as-a-design-tool-for-a-robust-living-environment","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.swecobelgium.be\/en\/news\/infiltration-as-a-design-tool-for-a-robust-living-environment\/","title":{"rendered":"Infiltration as a design tool for a robust living environment"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Regional Urban Planning Regulation on Rainwater (GSVH) sets out the rules for all environmental permit<\/a> applications in the public domain in Flanders. In an update dated 7 January 2025, every new, redeveloped or extended paved surface \u2013 from parking bays to village squares \u2013 must maximise the retention, infiltration and reuse of rainwater. Sweco supports clients in using infiltration as a design tool rather than a permitting risk.<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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From a box-ticking exercise to integrated design thinking<\/h2>\n

In practice, infiltration is still often treated as a \u201cfinal step\u201d when preparing an environmental permit<\/a> application: add an infiltration facility to comply with the Rainwater Regulation, and that\u2019s it.<\/p>\n

As architecture<\/a> and engineering consultants, we see that this approach is insufficient. Water and soil must become leading factors in the design<\/strong>, rather than an add-on. Infiltration plays a crucial role in this, not only for rainwater but also for other water flows:<\/p>\n