SuDS and NFM

Supporting the Green Recovery

This funding allows us to co-develop our systems, tools and processes as a partnership. This way, we can select schemes in an opportunistic way and deliver a diverse set of schemes ranging from small to large and ones delivered through UU and through 3^rd parties all the way from local communities to larger risk management authorities. The learning that this will provide will be invaluable in our upcoming price review where we aim to be ambitious in how blue green infrastructure and sustainable water management should be embraced in tacking the challenges and drivers associated with climate change, development and urban creep.

BGIs are multifunctional and create a number of benefits to a wide range of stakeholders including the public, water companies, local councils, planners, engineers, community groups, business, farmers, river management authorities, engineers, parks, health authorities, forest authorities, schools and environmental groups. Collaboration with stakeholders and the public is essential to the success of BGIs to ensure their benefits are realised and that can be maintained over the lifetime of the infrastructure.

United Utilities Phase 1 of Green Recovery Funding to support the development of BGI in the GMCA, Irwell, Wyre and Eden catchments is open for applications until August 2022. We are looking forward to working with external partners to develop some exciting projects this year and through to 2025. As part of our “Accelerating Partnerships to Deliver Natural Solutions” we managed to secure c.£15m, of £9m was allocated to delivering Sustainable Drainage Systems and Natural Flood Management in the selected strategic catchments.

The challenges that we face together as risk management authorities and partners require us to adapt to changing climates and environments. To meet this challenge, we understand that a more nature based solution is required to deliver the best outcomes for the environment and communities across the North West, aligning to our Catchment Systems Thinking (CaST) philosophy.

So what do we need?

Applications for Phase 2 are now open. For Phase 2 we would like to see the schemes you think apply to the criteria. We have created a basic proforma for you to add detail into this and submissions can be emailed through to SuDSOpportunities@uuplc.co.uk.

This second phase will close on 9th December 2022. We are looking to select projects that can be delivered at pace and any unsuccessful project may reapply with more detail later in phase 3. We can provide feedback where requested to develop and mature project submissions.

All schemes must be completed before 31st March 2025. The second round of funding has a limit of £5m and there is no limit for any individual submissions.

What we will subsequently do, is look at the location of the proposed schemes and solutions to prioritise based upon:

Volume attenuated and / or disconnected from the network
Natural Capital Value
Partnership and Leveraged Funding
Innovation – has this been done before? Are we establishing a new partnership with encouragement to work with e.g UU Area/Catchment team when developing proposals?

As we are not bound to delivering an improvement on flooding and spills etc. – I’m really keen for it to be about unlocking capability and enabling partnerships, so flexible in how that is achieved.

There will be another phase, and any unsuccessful projects can re-apply at a later stage (later this year) when more detail is present.

For successful projects, we’ll need to do an exercise of working with you to mature details, before whichever route of design and delivery is decided to then progress.

We have project management resources in place to help facilitate the delivery of this programme, and for all applications, will be in touch following the close date to establish next steps.

All schemes must be completed before 31^st March 2025.

Please see the UK government’s best practice guide that provides ‘a structured approach to help identify and quantify the financial, social and environmental benefits of BGIs. (UK Government, 2021). United Unities has developed a SUDS opportunity tools that provides detail on suitable SuDs options for selected area. Please contact us should you require more guidance in developing your proposals SuDSOpportunities@uuplc.co.uk.