Nature-based Solutions, Don Pilot Results and Farmer Fund
Case reference EIR2024/01274
Received 7 October 2024
Published 3 December 2024
Request
Please can you share:
A. The principles you have developed for working with farmers and landowners to reduce flood risk on vulnerable sections of the road network
B. Which sections of the M5, M4, A417, A419, A46, A40 and A34 you identify to be vulnerable
C. What natural solutions you are currently and specifically implementing along the M5, M4, A417, A419, A46, A40 and A34, or are planning to implement in the next 2-5 years
D. What working practices you have established with landowners
E. The details of the fund to help farmers and landowners create natural flood management measures and where/how farmers or relevant partners supporting farmers can apply to access this fund?
F. The results of the Don Catchment and Rivers Trust pilot that started in 2021 and the relevant report
Response
A. The principles you have developed for working with farmers and landowners to reduce flood risk on vulnerable sections of the road network
National Highways undertook a Natural Flood Management (NFM) pilot in our second road investment period from 2020-2025 (RIS2). The purpose of the pilot was to explore the use of NFM to manage flooding on the strategic road network (SRN) in England. The pilot developed procedures and tested whether National Highways could work with owners or managers of land 'off network' (i.e. land not owned by National Highways) to implement and maintain NFM measures, at locations upslope of known flood hotspots on the SRN. Core activities of the pilot were:
a) Selecting catchments (Focus Areas) within which to implement the pilot.
b) Developing an NFM Fund - a scheme for implementing and maintaining NFM measures on third party land.
c) Undertaking a trial implementation of the NFM Fund in the Focus Areas (parts of the Irwell, Etherow and Little Don in the Northwest of England) to explore how it could work with landowners adjacent to the SRN.
The attached report titled DG029 NFM Pilot Lessons Learnt v1.1 021123 - Redacted sets out the findings of this study which we are using to inform decision-making for our third road investment period from 2025-2030 (RIS3).
In our recently published Environment Sustainability Strategy (2023) National Highways made a commitment to report on opportunities on the SRN for Nature Based Solutions in 2024. A spatial analysis exercise was completed, in consultation with key stakeholders, at the beginning of 2024 to identify potential opportunities across the SRN where nature-based solutions could be used to deliver environmental benefits.
One of the key outputs from this exercise was a network-level map identifying opportunities for potential nature-based across the strategic road network. These locations are shown in the national level map (please see the attached titled: National Highways Opportunities for Nature-Based Solutions - National Level.pdf). A short, high-level summary report is currently being produced which will set out:
• National Highways' understanding of nature-based solutions.
• Some key outputs from the mapping analysis that has been undertaken.
• A reflection on the Natural Flood Management pilot project and the opportunity to upscale this.
Once finalised, this report will be published on our website in the near future, in order to meet the 2024 Environment Sustainability Strategy commitment.
B. Which sections of the M5, M4, A417, A419, A46, A40 and A34 you identify to be vulnerable
Please refer to the attached document titled: National Highways Opportunities for Nature-Based Solutions - National Level.pdf.
In terms of the specific roads mentioned, opportunities for potential nature-based solutions opportunities have been identified along the M5 (Brookthorpe, Gloucester; Bristol, Avon; Teignbridge), M4 (West Berkshire), A46 (Coombe Abbey Country Park) and A34 (Winchester).
Work is ongoing with our key stakeholders to continue to refine and identify opportunities across the SRN that will inform the development of a potential pipeline of projects that could support the delivery of nature-based solutions over RIS3, subject to confirmation of funding.
C. What natural solutions you are currently and specifically implementing along the M5, M4, A417, A419, A46, A40 and A34, or are planning to implement in the next 2-5 years
No initiatives are currently ongoing in this current road planning period to deliver nature-based solutions along these sections of the SRN. Following a review of the pilot NFM initiative in our second road investment period (2020-2025), we are now using the findings from this and working directly with stakeholders to identify opportunities that could potentially be funded through our environment designated funds in RIS3.
D. What working practices you have established with landowners
Through our Natural Flood Management pilot project, we developed:
1. A NFM Fund handbook (see attached titled NFM-Fund-Handbook_final) to support farmers and landowners with accessing funds to support in the implementation of measures that work with natural processes to reduce flood risk to A roads and motorways.
2. A NFM Measures Booklet (see attached titled NFM Measures Booklet_Final) to provide information to landowners on the natural flood management measures available for implementation, as part of the Natural Flood Management Fund.
E. The details of the fund to help farmers and landowners create natural flood management measures and where/how farmers or relevant partners supporting farmers can apply to access this fund?
We are now preparing for RIS3 by using the learning from this pilot project to inform next steps. The pilot project is now closed to further funding requests. We are awaiting confirmation of funding for RIS3 and working with stakeholders to identify further opportunities.
F. The results of the Don Catchment and Rivers Trust pilot that started in 2021 and the relevant report
Please find attached a copy of the final report and findings titled DG029 NFM Pilot Lessons Learnt v1.1 021123 – Redacted.pdf.
Information withheld
Personal information has been withheld under Regulation 13 of the Environmental Information Regulations 2004.
Documents
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