DEFRA seeks bids to develop surface water-management plans

08 October 2008

The Government has invited bids for £300,000 for the early development of surface water-management plans.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is seeing expressions of interest from local authorities and others which want to lead a partnership to ‘deliver a leading contribution’ to reducing the risk of surface water flooding.

Eligible areas will have a ‘significant’ flood-risk issue, partners who are willing and able to share information, and a lead organisation which can complete most of the work by April.

The pilot projects will inform the contents of the promised guidance for local authorities on producing SWMPs. The £300,000 is only likely to fund three pilot projects.

DEFRA acknowledged in its consultation on the plans that each would cost around £100,000 to produce.

The Environment Agency warned the cost of staff time was not reflected in the £100,000 estimate, while local authorities said the costs could be more if data was lacking. DEFRA intends to let applicants know whether they are successful by early next month.

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