The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Defra) has awarded a contract for a lowland agricultural peat water infrastructure grant scheme worth an estimated £446,250 to the Association of Drainage Authorities (ADA).
ADA describes the pilot scheme as a “hugely important new opportunity” for Internal Drainage Boards to invest in the infrastructure they need to safely retain more water within the lowland landscape to preserve peat soils.
The pilot will be managed by Defra, with the Association of Drainage Authorities to provide subject matter expertise.
The contract was awarded to ADA on the basis that the Association is the sole association within England that works with the Internal Drainage Boards (IDBs) and District Drainage Commissioners (DDCs).
Defra worked with ADA to develop the Lowland Agricultural Peat Small Infrastructure Pilot to enable IDBs to deliver projects that will enable more control of water levels for peat preservation and rewetting.
ADA’s subject expertise will be used to engage with the IDB community and establish a community of interest.
ADA will be able to work closely with the Defra Peat Team and provide advice in the development of the grant scheme and the identification of eligible IDBs who are being encouraged to submit bids for the grant scheme.
The pilot will deliver small scale infrastructure projects that will enable more control of water levels for the preservation and rewetting of lowland peat whilst seeking to not increase the risk of flooding to communities, business, and infrastructure. The focus will be on projects that are near shovel-ready and fully implementable by March 2025.
The scheme opened for applications on 19th September and will close on 30 October 2023.
Established in 1937, ADA is the membership organisation for drainage, water level and flood risk management authorities throughout the UK.
ADA represents over 230 members nationally, including internal drainage boards, regional flood & coastal committees, local authorities and national agencies, as well as Associate Members who are contractors, consultants and suppliers to the industry.