Cumbria Innovative Flood Resilience (CiFR) project – Warcop Update – June 2025
Works completed to date
- Initial Natural Flood Management (NFM) interventions have been identified and modelled showing an approximate reduction in flood risk of 13%. Revisions to that modelling and redesigns of the features are showing potential for a greater reduction in flood risk. Work to refine this continues.
- Meetings continue to be held on a regular basis with National Highways to follow up on progress of the final design of Scheme 6 within the A66 project (Scheme 6 is the area which covers Warcop).
- CiFR has shared mapping and modelling information with National Highways A66 team and there is on-going engagement between the CiFR project team, the wider Council and Environment Agency to ensure there is effective communication between the project and the A66 Team.
- The project has installed Doppler radar monitoring equipment on Hayber Beck looking at water levels.
- On-going Landowner engagement to identify if NFM interventions are viable and what payment rates would be acceptable.
- A Grant prospectus for delivery of NFM works has been published and applications assessed.
Next Steps
- Finalise formal Grant Agreement for NFM delivery with successful applicant. Details of the delivery partner will be shared once the agreement is finalised.
- Further landowner engagement as above.
- Final design of Scheme 6 by the A66 Team is now expected in Summer 2025.
- Due to the delays with the final design, the project is progressing with interventions outside and just inside the A66 project redline boundary.
- Explore mechanisms available to allow A66 Team to deliver NFM interventions inside the red line boundary.
Future works
- Delivery of NFM works on the ground.
- Look to deliver works in the rest of the catchment including identifying any opportunities for peat restoration.
Community Engagement
- The project team attended Warcop Parish Council’s meeting on 13 March 2025 to provide an update on the project.
- CiFR Community Resilience Coordinator met with the Clerk of the Parish Council on 23 May 2025. Community Resilience Plan has been shared which is currently under review.
Challenges / Opportunities
- Increased potential to work with National Highways A66 team to see if a betterment can be delivered.
- A66 works are likely to be delivered outside of the lifetime of the CiFR project, therefore a mechanism needs to be formalised to allow National Highways to deliver these NFM interventions.
Further information
A further update will be provided following the next Cumbria Strategic Risk Management Authority Steering Group meeting in Autumn 2025.
The project team can be contacted via CIFR@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk