Decision details

To request approval from Corporate Director, Environment, in consultation with the Chief Finance officer, sub-delegated to Assistant Director Resources - Environment, to submit an application for funding of £50k of the available Environment Agency Grant in Aid and grant approval of the funding application prior to the 30th November 2025 deadline.

Agreed the submission of a £50k funding application for the available Environment Agency Grant in Aid to support the Harrogate and Knaresborough River, Rains and Roots Feasibility Project during 2026-2027.

Harrogate and Knaresborough River, Rains and Roots is an ambitious, community driven initiative designed to mitigate climate-related water challenges through nature-based solutions and social action. It sees to implement a suite of Nature Based Solutions (NbS), including retrofitted Sustainable drainage Systems (SuDs, rain gardens, green roofs, living walls, ponds, swales, and woodland creation. This project would capitalise on the nature-based solutions criteria and if successful, the national lottery funding would give significant weighting to any Grant in Aid and/or Local Levy funding bids if the project is viable following the feasibility study.

Not open to call in as as urgency procedure in place.

None. This is a collaborative project with indicative contributions of £50k from both Yorkshire Water and national lottery funding from Yorkshire Dales River Trust.