[C]umbrian people, homes and businesses will be better protected from flooding thanks to a £2.5 million natural flood scheme, the Floods Minister Thérèse Coffey announced today (14 July).
More than 300 properties across the Derwent, Kent, Leven, Eden and Stockdalewath catchments will benefit from the pioneering project, which is led by the Cumbria Strategic Flood Partnership. The scheme will allow Cumbria to take advantage of the latest natural flood management techniques, such as creating wetlands, restoring bogs and reintroducing river bends to slow the flow of water.
It is one of 58 projects across England which will benefit from £15 million of government funding for natural flood defences.
Floods Minister, Thérèse Coffey, said: “This natural flood management funding will further boost Cumbria’s flood defences by using the region’s landscape to harness its rivers and their flows.
“Cumbria is already leading the way with schemes tailoring mixes of natural and concrete, engineered defences for maximum effect. I am delighted Cumbrian communities wants to build on this and that more families, homes and businesses will be able to benefit from innovative techniques such as restoring floodplains to help contain water run-off.”
Emma Howard Boyd, Chair of the Environment Agency, said: “Natural flood management is an important part of our approach, alongside traditional flood defences and helping homeowners to improve their own property resilience. There is no ‘one size fits all’ solution to flooding and this scheme is a fantastic example of how we can use a variety of measures that work together to reduce flood risk.”
A second natural flood scheme in Cumbria has also received funding – the High Rogerscale floodplain reconnection project has been allocated £30,000. The scheme will increase floodplain storage and restore banksides in the River Cocker catchment upstream of Cockermouth. New ponds, hedgerow and woodland will also be created helping to slow the flow of water.
Natural flood management involves restoring the natural function of catchments, rivers, floodplains and coasts. This can include methods such as restoring floodplains, creating wetlands, planting trees and using sand or shingle to protect the coast.
The government’s natural flood management drive builds on the 1,500 flood schemes the Environment Agency is already building across the country to better protect more than 300,000 homes by 2021.
The £15 million of government funding also includes the £1 million competition for smaller community projects to fund natural flood management schemes.
