Project Name
Securing investment through flood alleviation in Clyst upper
catchment
Lead Organisation
Exeter & East Devon Growth Point Team
Contact details
Name
Outline Project Description Please describe the activity that
you plan to undertake.
Geography – Where will activity
take place?
Timing – Over what time period
will activity take place?
Partners – Who are the
potential partners?
Please indicate if partners have
been involved in the development
of the project to date, or if they
have yet to be approached.
Fit with Natural Devon’s aims
Fit with Natural Devon’s
priority themes - Please select
the primary theme(s) that your
project supports, as well as any
themes where the project makes
Simon Bates
Email
sbates@eastdevon.gov.uk
Phone number
07875-280540
Woodland, tree and hedge planting, and wetland creation to
improve rainwater infiltration into soils and reduce the magnitude
of the flood peak downstream, thereby securing investment in
housing, schools and businesses at Cranbrook, Skypark, Exeter
airport, Intermodal Freight Terminal.
Upper catchment of the River Clyst, and most importantly in the
tributaries of the Crannybrook, Rockbeare stream and Southbrook.
5 years for habitat works to be negotiated and implemented, then
further 10 years of monitoring the impact on flooding.
Environment Agency
Devon Wildlife Trust
Natural England
Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group
Clinton Devon Estates
All of these organisations have been involved through the East
Devon Catchment Partnership.
To protect and improve Devon’s
natural environment
To grow Devon’s green
economy
To reconnect Devon’s people
with nature
Commentary:
Primary
Primary
Secondary
New priority habitat creation; broadleaved woodland, hedges,
ponds, fen. Income generation directly through habitat creation,
and through wood fuel in longer term. Indirect income generation
via Woodland Carbon Code and tax efficient investment. Research
programme would bring forward a demonstration site for
education.
Secondary
Naturally Healthy
Primary
Green Connections
Primary
Outdoor Learning
Primary
Farming with Nature
Secondary
Wood for Good
a secondary contribution. If your
project does not have a primary
theme, please select the
appropriate secondary themes.
More information can be found
at
http://www.naturaldevon.org.uk/wpcontent/uploads/2014/01/Final-DLNPprospectus-jan20141.pdf
Fit with HOTSW LEP Strategic
Economic Plan Priorities.
Appendix 1 provides a summary
of the Priorities for Growth. More
information can be found:
http://www.heartofswlep.co.uk/strategiceconomic-plan
Resilient Wetlands
Sustainable Seas
Primary
Primary
Commentary:
Floodplain and river corridor in Cranbrook housing allocations to be
enhanced and made publicly accessible, with indirect benefits for
naturally healthy agenda (more biodiverse public spaces increase
use). River corridors already indentified as strategic networks for
biodiversity. Outdoor learning through education at A level and
above. Land is intensive dairy in large part and farmers can realise
joint benefits from avoiding soil and nutrient loss, and in longer
term, wood fuel from new hedges in particular. Water Framework
Directive and Habitats Directive goals met by reducing phosphate
and silt pollution in rivers and Exe estuary.
Sustainable solutions for flood management – significant and
measurable reductions in amplitude of flood peak, as well as
delayed arrival of flood peak downstream where infrastructure is at
risk.
Energy Infrastructure – protecting the investment in district
heating, as well as major electricity transformer station north of
Cranbrook.
Strategic employment sites & Unlocking housing growth – both
benefit, at the very least from ensuring resilience from flooding,
and possibly by unlocking a larger area for these uses.
Maximising our environmental assets - In Devon, wood fuel
production could increase by £4 million and create 74 jobs over the
next 10 years.
Technical and higher level skills development and retention – by
establishing a research programme to measure the efficacy of
these soft flood engineering methods
Financials
What is the estimated total
project cost?
What proportion of total project
cost are capital costs?
Have you secured any funding
for the project yet? If so, list
amounts and sources.
In your view, what are the
potential sources of funding for
this project?
£3 million
70%
In-kind staff resources from EA.
Seed funding via East Devon
Catchment Action Fund (Defra).
Environment Stewardship
Water Framework Directive
Green investment e.g.
Woodland Carbon Code
Biodiversity offsetting
Defra catchment action funds
Section 106
Outcomes - Please describe
what you expect the project to
achieve in terms of
Environmental, Social and
Economic Outcomes
Quantifiable outputs - Please
provide any information you have
about quantifiable benefits?
Please describe how these have
been estimated.
Consultation – What
consultation has already occurred
is more required?
Statutory Approvals – What
statutory approvals will be
required for the project? Are
these in place?
Risks – What are the main risks
associated with this project?
Environmental Outcomes:
 100 ha and/or 3 km of new priority habitat
 Improve WFD status of sub-catchment from ‘bad’ to
‘moderate’
Social Outcomes:
 More time spent by public walking, running and cycling in
higher quality public space.
 Better mental health as a result, and also, crucially, from
avoiding flood damage in homes and businesses.
Economic Outcomes:
 Avoid £millions in damages as a result of flooding, and
indirect longer term costs to NHS from stress.
 Direct employment creating habitat.
 Maintain farm employment by reducing pollution fines,
fertiliser and soil waste, and via diversification into wood
fuel.
Nothing quantifiable at present, but clear priority identified
through evidence review conducted for East Devon Catchment
Partnership
The project is a priority for public-private-third sector East Devon
Catchment Partnership, though more consultation will be needed,
particularly with farming sector.
Approval would principally need to come from EA but perhaps only
if funds otherwise earmarked for built flood defences in the subcatchment were instead to be used for this project.
Failure to implement would render employment and housing
infrastructure increasing vulnerable to flooding