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M
obilisingfinancialresources
The project was funded by the
North East Local Levy,
which was raised by the Northumbria Regional Flood Defence
Committee though Local Authorities (public funding). The total project cost to date has been €300 000. Individual features
cost approximately: barriers (€900-2 000/m dependant on material), woody debris (€120- 1 200 per feature), offline ponds
(€6 000 per feature and less if there are multiple ponds in close proximity). The land on which the measures are located
is still owned by the farmers, with the measures having been implemented with
minimal loss of farm land.
A one-off
payment of €1 200 per feature was made by the Environment Agency to farmers for land access during implementation.
G
overnance
The Belford application was initiated by the
Environment Agency and Northumbrian Regional Flood Defence Com-
mittee
, and involved the formation of a project team that included the Environment Agency, Newcastle University and
Northumberland River Trust. The Environment Agency was in charge of the implementation and both of coordination and
financing of the project. Design and delivery was carried out by Newcastle University for Phase 1 and the Environment
Agency to Phase 2.
The willingness of the regulator (Environment Agency) to consider
alternative approaches
was crucial for enabling explo-
ration of non-traditional solutions to flood management. Some delays occurred in early measure implementation due to the
need to
consultwidely
on the approach. Dealing with a new concept meant that time was required in the early stages
to work with farmers and the community. The
involvement of farmers
in the programme was central to achieving the
greatest level of effectiveness, with farmers being engaged in decision-making and able to suggest locations for measures
and modify designs to gain greater agricultural and environmental benefits. Good existing relationships between farmers and
the wider community helped throughout the scheme.
Ruralrunoffattenuation
intheBelfordcatchment
Modelled influence of an increasing number of retention features on a flood peak
