Applications have opened for the next round of grant funding from Natural Resources Wales (NRW) to support the development of small-scale, retro-fit, sustainable drainage solutions in Wales.
In June 2023, NRW awarded grants between £25,000 to £40,000 to five grant recipients to develop feasibility studies for potential schemes in their area.
Up to £300,000 is now available in this round of funding to allow applicants to undertake concept design studies to tackle issues on existing sites with the potential to develop small-scale retro-fit schemes via another future competitive grant.
Applicants will need to demonstrate how their project would use innovation to improve current approaches, as well as demonstrating how they would reduce carbon emissions, enhance biodiversity and provide health and wellbeing benefits to the local community.
Helen Haider, Lead Specialist Advisor, Water Capital Programme, from Natural Resources Wales said:
“Sustainable urban drainage solutions have an important role to play in how we tackle both climate and nature emergencies in the future.
“Intense showers and thundery downpours are becoming more commonplace, and volumes of water quickly overwhelm developed areas where there is little natural drainage.
“Combined with a growing population and an aging sewerage network, there is an urgent need to use innovative solutions to reduce the amount of surface water which enters our drains and subsequently rivers through storm overflows.
“As well as providing practical solutions to urban problems, these schemes can provide an important role in reducing localised flooding, improving water quality and providing valuable aquatic habitat in rural areas.”
The grant programme is being funded by Welsh Government
The deadline for applications is before midnight on 30th June 2025.
Full details about the scheme and how to apply is on the NRW website.
NRW also plans to run two webinars where potential applicants can find out more and ask questions about the process. People can register their interest for a webinar via the web page.
