The UK Government will invest £25m in projects that use nature to increase flood resilience measures, Environment Minister Rebecca Pow announced today.
The ring-fenced funding, provided by the government and the Environment Agency, will support natural flood resilience measures across England.
These measures include planting trees and creating wetlands to slow and store water to reduce the risk of flooding.
These schemes are also proven to improve air and water quality, provide habitats for wildlife, and create green spaces for communities.
A long-term vision for flood resilience measures
This new funding builds on the £15m natural flood management pilot programme, which ran until 2021.
This created 1.6 million cubic metres of water storage, and 15,000 homes had better flood resilience measures.
Moreover, 4,000 hectares of habitat and 610 kilometres of river were improved, and 100 hectares of woodland were planted.
The funding will also build on using the power of nature to support the Environment Agency’s FCERM Strategy. This provides a long-term of how England can create climate-resilient places and provide homes with better flood resilience measures.
Environment Minister Rebecca Pow explained: “Nature is an essential weapon in our armoury against flooding. Enhancing the natural landscape to slow rivers and hold flood water works hand-in-hand with the bricks-and-mortar protection we are building.
“That is why we are driving investment to harness the power of nature. This approach doesn’t just increase flood resilience and help tackle climate change. It can also benefit water quality, restore habitats, and boost biodiversity.”
What projects is the scheme supporting?
The first project the initial pilot scheme supported was the Dorking Natural Flood Management Scheme. This was instigated after Pipp Brook in the Surrey Hills flooded due to its steep slopes.
The partners created ‘wet woodland’ flood resilience measures that benefit biodiversity and 30 ‘leaky barriers’ that allow water to spill into the natural floodplain, stopping too much water flooding into Dorking.
In Warwickshire, Shipston Area Flood Action Group, a community-led volunteer team, will reduce the risk of flooding for homes and businesses by using natural flood resilience across the River Stour.
Elsewhere, the South East Rivers Trust and the London Borough of Sutton partnered to install sustainable urban drainage systems within six schools in the area.
This helped reduce the flood risk to the schools and other properties and improve the water quality of the River Wandle, a chalk stream.
Funding for new flood resilience measures is available to environmental non-governmental organisations, businesses, farmers, catchment partnerships, flood risk management authorities, and community groups.
Successful projects will cover a large enough area to provide demonstrable flood risk benefits.
Expressions of interest open today (22 September 2023) and will close on 10 November 2023. Projects will be delivered during 2024-27.
