How to run a partnership scheme
How to....run a community flood resilience pathfinder project
In April 2013 Northamptonshire County Council was selected along with thirteen other Councils to undertake a Pathfinder project funded by Defra. This project was to explore how to support 15 communities to improve their surface water flood resilience. The Northamptonshire pathfinder project set out to provide information about community flood resilience through the provision of this online toolkit. We also offered selected communities the opportunity to pilot several tools that we believed would help create awareness and understanding of flood risk and identify actions that communities could take to reduce the impacts of future flooding.
You can find out more about the Community Flood Resilience Pathfinder Project and the results of this in the electronic evaluation report.
The 15 Pathfinder project communities were:
| Titchmarsh | Tiffield | Naseby |
| Irchester | Warmington | Brigstock |
| Moulton Industrial Estate | Geddington | Silverstone |
| Wellingborough Town Centre | Thrapston | Ringstead |
| Weston and Weedon Lois | Weldon Industrial Estate | Yelvertoft |
The community tools piloted included:
How to....run a small scheme pathfinder project
Northamptonshire County Council (NCC) was one of only six Local Authorities to get funding to deliver this Defra sponsored Small Schemes Pathfinder Project.
The aim of the project was to investigate ways to improve the success of securing Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Grant in Aid (FCERM GIA) for small schemes in rural, disparate communities. This is being driven by feedback from Local Authorities who have reported that it is particularly difficult to progress schemes where few houses/ businesses are at risk of flooding in small communities.
The NCC project was based around eight rural communities within the county. These communities were chosen because they have been flooded and have had a formal Section 19 Flood Investigation Report completed. A known flood risk problem therefore existed, which had been well documented and data collection had already taken place. The flooding was also similar for the eight communities, with agricultural runoff from surrounding fields being the main source. The aim was therefore to look for any similarities between the communities, identify flood management schemes, potential efficiency savings and funding opportunities.
You can find out more about the Small Schemes Pathfinder Project and the results of this in the electronic evaluation report.
The eight communities were:
| Cogenhoe | Grafton Underwood |
| Grendon | Grimscote |
| Hellidon | Helmdon |
| Quinton | Syresham |
A number of tools were developed as part of this project, which can be viewed and downloaded through the images to the right or the links below:
- Template site assessment form – details flood resilience and mitigation options and recommendations available following a Flood Incident Report.
- Flood options map – an example map for Syresham visually detailing potential flood mitigation and resilience options for the community.
- Methodology flow chart – overview of the approach utilised during this project including pre-study, initial assessment, consultation, and final assessment and recommendation.
The Small Schemes Pathfinder Technical Report provides full detail of the work undertaken for the Defra project. For each community, a separate Summary Report has been prepared which also provides an update on progress since completion of the project:
| Cogenhoe | Grafton Underwood |
| Grendon | Grimscote |
| Hellidon | Helmdon |
| Quinton | Syresham |
