Forty projects which will use natural processes such as planting trees and creating wetlands to reduce the risk of flooding are set to benefit from a £25 million government programme, Floods Minister Robbie Moore announced on Friday 23 February.
The announcement comes after a wide range of applications were submitted to the Environment Agency by community groups, environmental charities and councils for grants, following the launch of the largest-ever investment in natural flood management schemes in September last year. The Environment Agency led a review of these applications, with input from Defra and Natural England.
Environment Agency chair Alan Lovell said:
“It’s exciting to see such appetite for Natural Flood Management, recognising its value in providing not only benefits against flood risk but also wider support for nature recovery.
“I’m proud of the role the Environment Agency is playing in leading this pioneering programme. 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’s vital we use nature as an ally in our work to become ready for climate change, helping to restore the natural environment and protecting 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.
“These schemes will complement traditional bricks-and-mortar defences, all funded by our £5.2 billion 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 new funding builds on the £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.
The Environment Agency is managing the new £25 million programme with work taking place from now until March 2027.
Successful applicants and schemes:
- City of Doncaster Council, Bentley NFM Opportunities
- Northumberland County Council, Alnmouth Coastal scheme
- National Trust, Common Farm Hydrological Restoration
- National Trust, Resilient Coledale
- Community Forest Trust, Whitewell Brook NFM
- Ribble Rivers Trust, Ribble Revival: Darwen Community Catchment
- Ribble Rivers Trust, Ribble Revival: Clitheroe Community Catchment
- Ribble Rivers Trust, Ribble Revival: Wrea Green Community Catchment
- Wyre River Trust, Wyre Catchment Resilience Programme
- Brampton 2 Zero CiC, Brampton Natural Flood Management Project
- National Trust, Poynton and Micker (Norbury) Catchment Plan (Headwaters)
- Cheshire Wildlife Trust, Meols Natural Flood Management Scheme
- Mersey Rivers Trust, Alt Catchment NFM
- Woodland Trust, Smithills Estate NFM 2024
- City of Trees Trust, Cromton Moor Slow the Flow Leaky Dams
- Severn Rivers Trust, Illey Brook NFM
- Leicester City Council, Leicester Urban NFM – Willow Brook Catchment
- Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, Saving Worksop and Shireoaks through NFM
- Nottinghamshire County Council, Cropwell Butler Natural Flood Management
- Lincolnshire County Council, Barrow Beck Chalk Stream Restoration
- East Mercia Rivers Trust, Field Beck NFM – Holdingham, Sleaford
- Lincolnshire County Council, Building Flood Resilience in the River Rase Catchment
- National Trust, Northey Island Causeway Saltmarsh Management
- River Waveney Trust, Diss Natural Flood Management
- Essex County Council, Hockley Woods Leaky Dams
- RSPB, Beneficial Use of Dredged Sediment (BUDS) in the Blackwater Estuary
- Norfolk County Council, North Attleborough Flood Alleviation Scheme
- London Borough of Hillingdon, Pinn Meadows Natural Flood Management
- South Oxfordshire District Council, The Goggs, Watlington NFM Scheme
- Surrey County Council, Ash Ranges NFM
- High Weald AONB Partnership (East Sussex County Council), High Weald AONB NFM Project (Alder Stream)
- RSPCA, Marsham Valley Natural Flood Management Partnership
- The Friends of Cannizaro Park, Cannizaro Park NFM Programme
- Royal Borough of Greenwich Council, Marsh Dykes and Thamesmead Flood Alleviation Network
- High Weald AONB Partnership (East Sussex County Council), High Weald AONB NFM Project (Crawley – Stanford Brook)
- National Trust, Swan Brook Wetlands
- Dorset AONB Partnership, hosted by Dorset Council, West Dorset Rivers & Coastal Streams Natural Flood Management Programme
- Sidbury Manor Estate, Sidbury Manor Estate & The River Sid Catchment
- Environment Agency, Climate Resilient Otter Catchment (CROC)
- Westcountry Rivers Trust, Climate Resilient Mevagissey
