RAIN - Resilience And Innovation Northants

Creating resilient communities in Northamptonshire.

Rain means different things to different people. Some see growth, some see an inconvenience, but for people who have been flooded it means cost, loss, heart break, utter despair and anxiety. The RAIN project aims to change these feelings. We will build confidence and show those who are at risk or have experienced flooding that it is possible to be resilient, be prepared and recover.

We will work at catchment, community and property level to equip communities with the tools and support they need to improve their resilience to extreme weather.

Where are we working?

The project covers the Harpers Brook and Wootton Brook catchments, to view more detail view the Project Catchment Maps. There have been approximately 350 flood incidents reported here since detailed records commenced in 2012. Traditional hard engineered flood schemes are not considered viable.

What will we be doing?

The RAIN Project will implement resilience actions across the catchment, community and within properties. We will assess the benefits of these actions both individually and together.

Across the Catchment

At catchment level, we are working with the natural environment to install Natural Flood Management. This will involve working with landowners and farmers in the upstream areas of these catchments to slow/reduce the flow. We will be trialling Landscape Enterprise Networks (LENs), a innovative funding mechanism for nature-based solutions.

Within the Community

At community level, we are working with the Northants Emergency Planning Team. We will be improving emergency preparedness and creating opportunities for residents to get involved with within their local community.

At Individual Property Level

At property level, we will implement findings from the Ox-Cam Property Flood Resilience Pathfinder project, led by Northamptonshire County Council. we will deliver property flood resilience measures to those people and properties most vulnerable to flooding.

What is happening now?

Engagement is at the core of RAIN. Our Natural Flood Management team are currently engaging with local farmers and landowners to introduce the LENs funding mechanism. Contact Tristan Baxter-Smith at tristan@neneriverstrust.org to learn more about opportunities for farmers and landowners.

The project team are currently reaching out to parish councils, residents and community groups to understand the background and current concerns and flood issues within each community. Due to the innovative nature and length of the project we are aiming to tailor our approach to each community.

RAIN needs YOU!

Residents are at the centre of The RAIN project. It is a holistic approach to resilience, and it happens when people are allowed to act on innovation. If you live in one of our catchments, we want to hear from you and work with you. Local knowledge comes from you and will enable us to develop ideas and initiatives that will help improve your local resilience. If you would like to get involved, or want to learn more, please email us at RAIN@westnorthants.gov.uk

The RAIN project have carried out flood risk mapping of Harpers and Wootton Brook Catchments. The flood depths are generated using computer modelling of flooding from rivers, surface water flooding and from overflow of the drainage network. The flood models used here represent present day climate. Though you may not have previously flooded, climate change science predicts that floods will become more severe and more frequent in the future and therefore increase your risk, we have a chance to prepare for this.

Check you local area here:

Harpers Brook Catchment - https://nfm.hrwallingford.com/main/rain-harpers

Wootton Brook Catchment -https://nfm.hrwallingford.com/main/rain-wootton

How our project is testing innovation

The RAIN Project challenges the traditional, hard engineering concepts within flood resilience. The project will demonstrate how major capital projects can produce significant social and environmental benefits through community engagement. We are working with two very different catchments to test how resilience actions combine and interact.

As part of the Flood and Coastal Resilience Innovation Programme we are testing 8 resilience actions.

• Integrated water management solutions
• Nature based solutions
• Property flood resilience
• Community infrastructure resilience
• Minimise damages and disruption to small and medium sized businesses
• Community and voluntary sector action to be better prepared and recover more quickly
• Local emergency response equipment

Visit the programme evaluation page to find out more.

Who we are working with:

West Northamptonshire Council, North Northamptonshire Council, Environment Agency (Northamptonshire and Lincolnshire Area), Nene Rivers Trust, 3keel, HR Wallingford, Anglian Water, Northamptonshire Local Nature Partnership, Mary Dhonau Associates