Delivering Resilience at Pace The IDB Storm Recovery & Asset Improvement Fund

In response to the devastating winter storms of 2023/24, Defra Ministers launched the £91 million IDB Storm Recovery & Asset Improvement Fund in May 2024. Administered by the Environment Agency (EA), it was designed to support internal drainage boards (IDBs) in repairing damage and modernising water level management infrastructure. The Fund continues until March 2026, but is already delivering significant benefits across lowland England.

The Fund is forecast to provide flood resilience benefits to over 250,000 homes and businesses from improved flood and land drainage assets, supporting water level management across over 450,000 hectares of agricultural land. Over 200,000 hectares have already benefitted, with 279 projects funded across 94 IDBs and £52.6 million issued to date.

Two Tranches, One Purpose

The fund operates in two distinct tranches.

Tranche 1 – Storm Recovery supports urgent repairs and operational costs following the 2023/24 storms, including fixing pumping station breakdowns, bank slip repairs, debris clearance, and excess energy costs.

Tranche 2A & 2B – Asset Improvement focuses on long-term upgrades such as new pumps, telemetry systems, solar installations, and nature-based flood risk management.
Demand has far exceeded expectations, with applications totalling £163 million, 180% oversubscribed. This reflects both the scale of need and the IDB sector’s readiness to deliver.

Delivery at Speed and Scale

The pace of delivery has been exceptional. Of the 200 completed projects (133 Tranche 1 and 67 Tranche 2A), most were delivered within 5–9 months.

Many schemes have delivered multiple benefits by aligning with other initiatives such as the ADA-managed Lowland Agricultural Peat Small Infrastructure Pilots (LAPSIP).

Environment Agency audits and site visits have praised the quality and speed of delivery. Ian Hodge, Chief Engineer, said: “It is great to see firsthand the complex and impactful work delivered by IDBs, demonstrating the success of the fund in improving water level and flood risk management.”

What’s Next

Seventy-nine projects remain live, including 64 Tranche 2B schemes and 15 extended Tranche 1 and 2A projects. All Tranche 2B recipients must submit progress reports by 25 October 2025 to unlock their second grant payments. The reporting process has been streamlined to allow multiple updates per form, and IDBs are encouraged to flag any risks to delivery or underspend.

This fund is a powerful example of what can be achieved when local expertise, national support, and shared urgency come together. It is not just about recovery, it is about building long-term resilience, protecting communities, and showcasing the vital role IDBs play in managing England’s water landscape.

On that, Ian Hodge reflected: “This fund has showcased the ingenuity, pace, and deep local knowledge that IDBs bring to flood resilience. Their ability to turn urgent need into lasting impact, often within months, is a testament to the sector’s quiet excellence and national importance.”

Funding climate resilience benefits

	Bank Slip Repairs Nearly 6km of stabilisation works have been completed, repairing over 600 bank slips, and directly benefiting 125,000 hectares.
Asset Life Extension 66% of projects report a 10–60-year increase in asset life, averaging 27 years improvement.	Flood Risk Reduction 67% of Tranche 1 projects report a drop in flood probability—from high to medium or medium to low.
	Environmental Gains Projects include fish-friendly pumps, eel regulation compliance, carbon reduction, and peatland protection. Some repairs have been enhanced with biodiversity features like kingfisher burrows.
	Temporary pumps 32 mobile pumps were purchased under T1 and T2A across 9 IDBs showing a return of £5.08 for every £1 invested enabling greater flexibility in times of flooding, and boosting IDB resilience.
	Drainage Rate Relief 20% of projects helped prevent or reduce planned rate increases across 23 IDBs.
	Remote Operation Broads IDB’s Upton Doles Pumping Station in Norfolk is one of 73 stations across the five WMA IDBs receiving telemetry upgrades. Remote operation will improve safety and efficiency during flood events.

---