Landowners are receiving compensation to shield infrastructure such as rail corridors and electricity networks from flooding through an environmental programme.

The Evenlode Landscape Recovery project spans sections of Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire and Warwickshire and stands as one of the first major British initiatives to move from planning to practical implementation.

Over 3,000 hectares across the region will be restored under the scheme, which addresses flooding fundamentally by enhancing soil conditions, reinstating river floodplains and boosting the terrain’s ability to retain water.

The programme operates via the North East Cotswold Farmer Cluster and forms part of a £100 million financing agreement with Natural England and the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Initial pledges from utility companies including Network Rail, Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks and Oxfordshire County Council across the next three years are anticipated to surpass £3 million.

Techniques for natural flood management are being applied to decelerate and capture water at elevated locations within the catchment area.

Tim Field, executive director of Evenlode Landscape Recovery, stated that the collaboration marks a fresh approach to flood mitigation and infrastructure protection.

Working alongside Network Rail, SSEN and Oxfordshire County Council enhances infrastructure resilience through tangible on-site work.

Agricultural producers are ideally positioned to manage water at its origin.

By reviving habitats and enhancing soil structure across the catchment, flood risk downstream can be lowered while increasing the sustainability of farming enterprises.

The initiative compensates farmers for establishing wetlands, woodlands and meadows on less productive or flood-vulnerable areas.

This supports wildlife, strengthens resilience and aids in defending infrastructure against flood damage.

Ryan Barrett, weather resilience and climate adaptation programme manager at Network Rail, noted that in this region the railway intersects the Evenlode River 27 times, producing numerous locations where flooding can interfere with services.

Investing in natural flood management presents an opportunity to mitigate risk before it impacts the railway, and they anticipate collaborating with ELR on critical risk zones to enhance the rail line’s resilience both currently and in future.

Chris Bratt, director of asset management at SSEN, explained that they possess vital electricity infrastructure within the Evenlode catchment, including substations that must remain operational during severe weather events.

By funding nature-based solutions upstream, they can decrease long-term flood vulnerability for these assets.

This proactive approach improves network resilience and over time helps avoid expenses that might otherwise ultimately be charged to customers.

The work will be undertaken by specialist contractors and local farmers, who will be compensated to maintain the alterations for a minimum of 20 years through a blended finance arrangement.