CIWEM supports Barnet’s successful bid for Defra flood innovation funding

The London Borough of Barnet has secured £6 million of funding over six years from Defra’s Flood and Coastal Resilience Innovation Program, managed by the Environment Agency, for its Silk Stream Flood & Resilience Innovation (SSFRI) project.

Developed in collaboration with the London Borough of Harrow, and assisted by more than 24 project partners, key stakeholders and supporters including CIWEM, the project will use nature-based and sustainable drainage interventions with the aim of improving flood resilience, enhancing wellbeing and enriching the natural environment in the heavily urbanised catchment of the Silk Stream – a 2.5-mile tributary of the River Brent.

After a consultation/proposal submission period in 2021 and early 2022 – which includes community engagement – schemes are set to be delivered on the ground from 2022 until 2027.

In addition to the above both during and following delivery, Barnet will be rolling out project learnings – generating evidence to inspire investment across London and other urban river catchments nationally.

CIWEM’s director of policy Alastair Chisholm said: “In heavily urbanised catchments like that of the silk stream, delivering multi-beneficial, nature-based solutions is so important. Not only to help mitigate flood risk to local communities, but also to better reconnect them with their river and with nature in a positive way.”

Commenting on the funding program earlier this year chair of the Environment Agency Emma Howard Boyd said:

“The innovation programme is extremely exciting as it begins to put new aspects of the national flood and coastal erosion risk strategy to the test. What we learn will inform our approach to the climate crisis in the coming decades and it’s something to tell our international partners about at COP26.

“I’m particularly interested in the projects that test the ability of nature-based projects to generate revenue. If successful, these could be scaled up by private finance around the world, helping to prepare for climate shocks, restore nature and create jobs.”