‘Biggest-ever investment’: 40 natural flood management projects to receive £25m in funding

Forty projects that plan to use plant trees and create wetlands to reduce the risk of flooding are to benefit from a record £25m in grant funding, the government has announced today.
The funding is to be awarded by the Environment Agency through to arch 2027, enabling a series of projects proposed by wildlife, river, and woodland charities, community groups, and local authorities that are designed to curb flood risks while enhancing natural habitats.
It comes after the government committed to double the number of nature-based solutions deployed to reduce flooding and coastal erosion risk that it funds, setting a target to deliver 260 natural flood management projects between 2021 and 2027.
Schemes were selected from applications submitted to the Environment Agency after the largest-ever funding round for natural flood management schemes was launched in September last year.
Selected projects include work by Severn Rivers Trust to implement natural flood management measures in the headwaters of Illey Brook near Halesowen in the West Midlands, which aim to improve soil and land management to slow and store surface water runoff. New woodland areas and hedgerows will also support wetland complexes and the creation of new habitats.
Meanwhile, the Ribble Rivers Trust has secured funding to create swales, ponds, and leaky barriers across watercourses to slow and store floodwater in the Ribble catchment in Darwen, Clitheroe, and Lea Green, and in the upper reaches of the River Darwen catchment. Vegetation management and new woodland will also intercept the flow of water as it runs downhill, reducing runoff and enabling more water to be stored in soils.
The £25m programme is set to contribute towards the National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy for England, a longer-term vision to better protect and prepare homes and businesses from increased flood risksand create climate resilient places.
It also supports the Government Policy Statement on Flood and Coastal Erosion Management, which highlights the importance of harnessing the power of nature, and the Environmental Improvement Plan, which recognises the need to mitigate and adapt to climate change via nature-based solutions.
Environment Agency chair Alan Lovell said it was exciting to see both the growing appetite for natural flood management projects and recognition of the value nature-based approaches can deliver.
“I’m proud of the role the Environment Agency is playing in leading this pioneering programme,” he said. “We look forward to working with partners to help natural techniques become a mainstream option for flood protection and help create more climate resilient places.”
Floods Minister Robbie Moore said it was vital to harness nature to enable climate adaptation, help restore the natural environment, and protect homes and businesses.
“That’s why we’re funding the biggest-ever investment in natural flood management – and it’s great to see the huge demand,” he said. “These schemes will complement traditional bricks-and-mortar defences, all funded by our £5.2bn flood programme.
“This programme is one more part of our plan to bolster flood resilience and shield communities – all whilst boosting biodiversity, restoring habitats and protecting the environment for future generations.”
Mark Lloyd, chief executive of the Rivers Trust, said: “We warmly welcome this significant fund which will not only protect people and businesses from flooding, but will also make more space for nature, purify pollutants, recharge groundwater aquifers, lock up organic carbon and create amenity value for communities.”
The announcement builds on the government’s £15m natural flood management pilot programme which ran until 2021, creating the equivalent of 1.6 million cubic metres of water storage and reducing flood risk to 15,000 homes.
In related news, NFU Mutual this week confirmed the cost of flood damage reported from Storm Henk is approaching £10m, prompting the rural insurer to call on those affected by recent flooding to think about how they can make their properties more resilient to extreme weather.
According to an update yesterday, NFU Mutual has now paid over £1m towards the installation of flood resilience measures since it started offering contributions for customers who suffered flood damage above £10,000 in 2017.
Sean Walkden, head of property claims at NFU Mutual, said with more properties expected to be at risk of flooding in the coming decades there was value in investing to make properties more resilient to future flooding.
“While it can be difficult to entirely prevent at-risk homes from flooding, making resilient repairs now can protect your property by reducing the disruption and damage caused by subsequent floods by thousands of pounds,” he said.
“They don’t have to be expensive measures either. Actions like rewiring sockets higher up the wall, replacing damaged skirting or cabinetry with PVC or metal alternatives, or electing to install waterproof flooring when the old floor is damaged can greatly reduce future risk with minimal upfront cost, so it’s worth discussing with your insurer or loss adjuster before repairs get underway.
“As a nation, we need to become more resilient to extreme weather events to better protect people and property, as well as controlling the cost of flooding. A key part of that response must be making sure we adapt after a flood.”
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