Guidance

Standalone NFM project interventions eligible for FCERM funding

Published 3 March 2026

Applies to England

Natural flood management (NFM) projects include interventions that protect, restore, or mimic the natural functions of catchments, floodplains, rivers and the coast to reduce flood risk.

They also:

• provide wider benefits to people, nature and the environment
• support biodiversity
• improve water quality
• enhance landscape resilience

A range of interventions are eligible for funding through the flood and coastal erosion risk management (FCERM) investment programme as part of standalone NFM projects. This is explained in the next sections.

Where any of the eligible NFM interventions listed integrate with, or operate alongside, hard‑engineered flood or coastal defences, the project must be submitted as an in-combination project. These should follow the process for new, or improved asset projects and not follow the steps for standalone NFM.

This applies to any hard engineering beyond the small enabling structures listed below. For example:

• containment bunds
• inlets
• outlets
• spillways

These are all required to support NFM features.

Examples of in-combination projects include:

• salt marsh management achieved through managed realignment with a new set-back defence or regulated tidal exchange structure
• NFM implemented in front of a hard engineered flood defence

1. River and floodplain management

1.1 River restoration

River restoration is a reinstatement of the natural processes and features that are characteristic of a river.

Techniques can include:

• re-meandering
• removing man-made features
• reintroducing braided channels

River restoration can reduce flood risk by slowing river flow and affecting downstream peaks.

1.2 Floodplain and floodplain wetland restoration

Floodplains and floodplain wetlands can be restored or created to store large volumes of water for flood risk and ecological benefits.

Floodplain and floodplain wetland restoration can reduce flood risk by reducing or delaying flood peaks.

1.3 Leaky barriers

These are usually formed of wood but can be living trees or rock. They are either formed naturally or are installed across watercourses and floodplains.

Leaky barriers can reduce flood risk by storing flood water and reducing peak flows.

1.4 Offline storage areas

These are areas of floodplain which have been adapted to store and then release flood waters in a controlled manner. They do this using:

• a containment bund
• inlet
• outlet
• spillway

Offline storage areas can reduce flow velocities and create temporary storage.

2. Woodland management

2.1 Catchment woodland

Catchment woodlands are the total area of all woodland within a catchment.

It combines woodland cover of all types and species. It includes plantations, plus specific forms where they are present, such as:

• cross-slope woodland
• riparian woodland
• floodplain woodland

Catchment woodland can intercept, slow, store and filter water throughout a catchment reducing flood risk.

2.2 Cross-slope woodland

This is planted across a hill slope. It can include all woodland types and species and can be managed as either productive or unproductive woodland.

Cross-slope woodland can intercept the flow of water as it runs down the hill. This reduces rapid run-off and encourages infiltration and storage of water in the soil.

2.3 Floodplain woodland

Floodplain woodland is all woodland lying within the fluvial floodplain that is subject to an intermittent, regular, planned or natural flooding regime.

It typically includes broadleaved woodland and can range from productive woodland on drier, intermittently flooded, areas to unmanaged, native wet woodland in wetter areas. Floodplain woodland usually covers a larger area than riparian woodland, often extending more than 5 metres on either side of watercourses.​ 

The main role of floodplain woodland is to slow down and hold back flood flows within the floodplain. It can also enhance sediment deposition to reduce downstream siltation. 

2.4 Riparian woodland

This is planted on land immediately adjoining a watercourse or standing water. This land is known as the riparian zone. The zone is usually narrow, around 5 to 10 metres on either side of watercourses.

Riparian woodland is typically comprised of native broadleaved woodland and often unmanaged.

Riparian woodland can:

• slow flood flows
• reduce sediment entering the watercourse
• reduce bankside erosion

They also have high evaporation losses and can create below groundwater storage.

3. Run-off management

3.1 Headwater drainage management

Headwater drainage management aims to retain water within peatland habitats to reduce run-off downstream.​ These techniques intercept, slow and filter surface water run-off. They also encourage attenuation and infiltration within the soil in the upper reaches of the catchment.

They include:

• flow path management
• vegetation management, which is the deliberate planning and maintenance of the plant life within peatland
• grip and gully blocking
• pipe blocking, or the obstruction of pipe outlets

They usually work best as a cluster of features working as a network throughout the landscape.

3.2 Run-off pathway management

Run-off pathway management measures are intended to mimic natural hydrological regimes.

These include:

• run-off attenuation features (RAFs)
• hedges
• buffer strips
• track management

These techniques intercept, slow and filter surface water run-off.

They can include blue-green sustainable drainage systems such as:

• ponds
• swales
• large grass verges along roads
• channels and rills
• filter strips
• bioretention area
• infiltration basins
• detention basins
• retention ponds
• wetlands

They have the potential to regulate run-off by:

• temporarily storing floodwater
• disconnecting and lengthening flow pathways or increasing travel time
• roughening the surface during flood events  

They usually work best as a cluster of features working as a network.

4. Coast and estuary management

4.1 Saltmarsh and mudflat management

These intertidal habitats help to reduce and dissipate wave and tidal energy, reduce tidal surge propagation and can lead to lower water levels.

Appropriate techniques include:

• beneficial use of dredged sediment (BUDs)
• sedimentation fields or polders

4.2 Sand dune management

Coastal sand dunes provide a natural flood defence and erosion protection from storm surges.

They can:

• act as reservoirs of sand to nourish beaches during storms
• act as a buffer protecting cliffs behind from direct wave attack and erosion, which enhances the design-life of other flood risk management infrastructure
• protect estuaries and lagoons through restricting the passage of storm surges and waves

Their creation can be supported by:

• planting
• fencing
• notching
• nourishment including BUDs

5. Interventions that are not eligible

The following interventions are not eligible for funding through the FCERM investment programme as part of standalone NFM projects:

5.1 Construction of hard engineered flood and sea defences

This includes:

• flood walls
• engineered dams
• artificial channels
• water-control and pumping installations
• breakwaters
• groynes
• artificial foreshores
• regulated tidal exchange structures

This infrastructure may only be allowed if it is relatively small scale and specifically required to enable the NFM interventions. Examples of eligible enabling structures include a containment bund, inlet, outlet, and /or spillway associated with an offline storage area

5.2 Soil and land management

This includes:

• soil aeration, subsoiling and measures to reduce soil compaction
• reducing stocking density
• improving vegetation cover
• conservation tillage
• cover cropping
• crop rotations
• regenerative agriculture

5.3 Other sustainable drainage (SuDs) interventions

This includes:

• rainwater harvesting
• permeable paving
• other permeable surfaces
• filter trenches
• soakaways
• infiltration trenches
• rain gardens
• geocellular drainage, including tree pits
• inlets, outlets and controls
• vortex control structures
• green roofs

5.4 Other ineligible measures

• beaver reintroductions
• beach nourishment - adding material to the shoreline and allowing natural processes to incorporate it into the beach system
• submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV), for example seagrass and kelp
• biogenic reefs, for example oysters

To explore natural flood management measures in greater detail and understand the evidence supporting their benefits, please refer to the working with natural processes evidence directory.