News

Defra Seeks Pilot Sites for Integrated Urban Drainage Projects

22nd March 2006

A questionnaire to identify pilot sites for developing integrated approaches to urban drainage has been published by Defra.

A number of pilot projects across England are sought, where examples of best practice in organisational approach, technical solutions and stakeholder collaboration can be applied. Funding is available to support the development of partnerships at the selected pilot sites over the next 18 months.

The Defra questionnaire is aimed at key operating bodies and stakeholders, and includes questions on sources of flooding, its severity, work done to investigate the problem, and stakeholders involved. Defra is also interested in identifying where such issues may need to be addressed in the future. To this end it welcomes responses from stakeholders who believe a flooding problem requiring an integrated solution exists but do not have the means or capacity to resolve it themselves and therefore do not wish to directly participate in the pilot study.

The aim of the pilots will be to:

* Trial a range of partnership approaches to integrated assessment, planning and management of urban flooding problems from a variety of sources with different lead stakeholder organisations

* Confirm the key benefits of an integrated approach, determine best practice and identify any needs for further guidance or legislation

The work is being taken forward as part of 'Making Space for Water', the developing Government-wide strategy for flood and coastal erosion risk management.

The questionnaire and further details are available on the Defra website at http://www.defra.gov.uk/environ/fcd/policy/strategy/ha2.htm. Completed questionnaires must be returned to Defra by 8th May 2006.

A shortlist of pilots will be selected following return of the questionnaire. The number will depend on anticipated costs.