Natural Resources Wales opens applications for sustainable retrofit schemes

NATURAL RESOURCES WALES (NRW) has today (April 7) opened applications for the latest round of grant funding to support small-scale, retro-fit sustainable drainage projects across Wales.

Building on the success of the previous funding round in June 2023, where grants of between £25,000 and £40,000 were awarded to five recipients to develop feasibility studies, this latest phase offers a total of up to £300,000. The new funding will enable successful applicants to undertake concept design studies for sustainable drainage solutions at existing sites. A further competitive round of funding is expected to support the implementation of the most promising schemes.

Sustainable urban drainage systems (SuDS) offer a natural approach to managing surface water. By incorporating features such as permeable pavements, wetlands, soakaways, and rain gardens, SuDS help reduce flooding in built-up areas, limit runoff into rivers and streams, and improve water quality in rural settings.

Storm overflows, which release diluted sewage into watercourses when the sewer network becomes overwhelmed by rainwater, are a growing concern. SuDS help reduce the pressure on these systems by intercepting and managing surface water more effectively.

Helen Haider, Lead Specialist Advisor for the Water Capital Programme at NRW, said: “Sustainable urban drainage solutions have a key role to play in how we respond to the climate and nature emergencies.

“With intense rainfall events becoming more common, our towns and cities—where natural drainage is often limited—are increasingly at risk of flooding. Combined with an aging sewerage network and a growing population, there is an urgent need for innovative ways to reduce surface water entering our drainage systems.

“These schemes not only tackle urban drainage challenges but can also help reduce flooding, improve water quality, and create valuable aquatic habitats in rural communities.”

Applicants will be expected to demonstrate how their proposals use innovation to improve existing practices. Projects should also aim to reduce carbon emissions, enhance biodiversity, and deliver health and wellbeing benefits for local communities.

The grant programme is funded by the Welsh Government. The deadline for applications is midnight on 30 June 2025.

Full details on the scheme and how to apply can be found on the Natural Resources Wales website. NRW will also host two webinars for prospective applicants. Those interested can register their interest via the grant programme web page.

FIVE years of practical innovation at the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) Cymru has helped improve Welsh manufacturing, with businesses learning to work smarter, reduce waste and create better products.

Since first opening its doors, the £20m Welsh Government funded research centre in Broughton has helped more than 100 Welsh businesses make products better, faster and greener, while running more than twenty programmes showing manufacturing companies how to improve productivity and cut energy use. Shortly after opening, AMRC Cymru, part of the University of Sheffield, proved invaluable by quickly switching to produce life-saving medical ventilators during the Covid-19 pandemic by integrating into Airbus’ mobilisation team.

In partnership with the Welsh Government, the centre delivered the Ffatri 4.0 project, bringing Airbus together with food and drink manufacturers to help factories work smarter, increase productivity and reduce their environmental impact through new technologies. The Pudding Compartment in Flint has seen the benefits of this approach, using sensors to monitor temperatures and energy use, and testing factory layouts digitally, with smarter working resulting in higher output and new customers.

Jason Murphy, Strategy and Commercial director at AMRC Cymru, said: “It has been an exciting five years since Airbus, the University of Sheffield and the Welsh Government entered into an agreement that brought the AMRC to Wales.

“In a new facility on the Airbus site in North Wales, with support from the AMRC, Airbus have been developing advanced wing assembly processes for the next generation of single aisle aircraft – a hugely important program for the UK aerospace sector.

“But the focus for the AMRC in Wales is much broader. Cutting edge capabilities developed in translational research at the AMRC have helped Welsh businesses across sectors, including automotive, renewable energy and food and drink, to develop better products and improve their processes through innovation and technology.

“We look back on the last five years proudly, yet our greatest challenge lies in front of us; over the next ten years our goal is to transform the Welsh economy, working with stakeholders and partners to build a world class manufacturing sector.”

The Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, Ken Skates, said: “AMRC Cymru has made a huge impact in its first five years. We invested in this centre because we knew it would benefit north Wales, manufacturing and the wider Welsh economy. It has quickly become a vital part of our research network, helping Welsh businesses develop new products and prepare for the future.”

Last month, the AMRC, part of the High Value Manufacturing (HVM) Catapult, expanded thanks in part to £1.5m Welsh Government investment in a new digital factory hub at HVM Catapult Baglan in South Wales, helping even more Welsh businesses work efficiently while reducing their environmental impact.

The Cabinet Secretary for the Economy, Energy and Planning, Rebecca Evans, said: “AMRC Cymru encapsulates what we want for the Welsh economy. By bringing together universities, government and businesses to accelerate innovation, productivity and sustainability, AMRC has created jobs and opportunities across Wales and has already become an important part of a business landscape ripe and ready to attract further investment and drive employment opportunities here.”

CREATIVE media students at Pembrokeshire College have showcased their impressive talents in an annual video competition run in partnership with Pembrokeshire County Council.

The Road Safety Competition challenges students to produce a 45-second film or animation highlighting one of the ‘Fatal 5’ causes of road traffic collisions. The winning entries are used in the council’s social media campaigns to promote safer driving and help reduce casualties on local roads.

Pembrokeshire County Council’s Road Safety Officer, Sally Jones, said: “We are very proud to be working with the Creative Media students at Pembrokeshire College once again for our annual Road Safety media competition.

“All the students worked very hard and impressed the judges with their unique and innovative videos. The overall winner, Silas, delivered a very impactful video which we look forward to sharing via our social media channels.”

Silas Roberts was awarded a £100 cheque for his video Stay Alive! Don’t Drive Distracted, which highlights the dangers of texting while driving. Speaking after the win, Silas said: “I am really pleased that the client liked my video. I wanted to create something simple that would get the message across, and the fact that I was chosen as the winning entry shows that I was successful in achieving that.”

Runners-up Sabrina Semaani-Rodriguez and Taya Fouracre were each awarded a £50 Amazon voucher for their outstanding contributions.

The competition not only raises awareness of key road safety issues, but also provides students with real-world experience in working to a live client brief.

Course lecturer Denys Bassett-Jones added: “I am absolutely delighted with the outcome of this year’s competition. Every year the standard gets higher and the students never cease to amaze me with their ideas.

“Working in partnership with PCC gives learners the opportunity to develop their skills in a real-world context, which is a fundamental part of creative education at Pembrokeshire College.”