Small-scale works grant: guidance

This guidance has been prepared by Welsh Government for local authorities. Its purpose is to provide guidance when applying for funding through the Small-Scale Works Grant.

For enquiries, please contact the Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management team, within the Welsh Government by emailing: FloodCoastalRisk@gov.wales  

Mae’r ddogfen yma hefyd ar gael yn Gymraeg. This document is also available in Welsh.

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The purpose of the Small-Scale Works Grant (SSWG) is to enable Local Authorities (LAs) to deliver smaller flood alleviation schemes using Welsh Government funding.

The funding supports projects across Wales to deliver targeted interventions that reduce flood risk to homes and communities. The grant remains highly valued by LA and has proven to be an effective mechanism for delivering meaningful risk reduction and wider benefits from relatively modest capital investment.

Following a further evaluation of the programme in September 2024, officials implemented changes to increase the maximum grant funding available per scheme, as well as the eligible cost per property. These changes ensure the programme continues to reflect inflationary pressures and remains viable for LA.

Despite their relatively small scale, these schemes often deliver a range of wider benefits aligned with the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act goals, including: 

• Improvements to drainage structures to become more resilient to climate change; 
• Safe and well-connected communities, improving access to a hospital, a care home, and businesses; 
• Ensuring business is not adversely impacted by flooding/ coastal erosion, maintaining employment; 
• Awareness raising work with residents providing information on river levels and flood alerts; 
• A healthier Wales, by reducing anxiety which is a common effect amongst people who have experienced flooding;  
• Use of local materials to carry out works; 
• Use of smaller, local contractors to carry out works, which helps the development of local workers, and indirectly could support the Welsh language; and
• Use of in-house designers to reduce costs and promote skills within the Local Authorities. 

As with the Welsh Government’s Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) main capital grant, and in line with our National Strategy, proposed works must reduce risk to people and properties or maintain their current levels of protection. 

The SSWG should focus on addressing a flood or coastal risk problem where there is a strong case for the works proposed and there are no other feasible options. Works need to be economically worthwhile and satisfy all necessary statutory requirements. LA will be required to demonstrate value for money in the delivery of the works. 

Funding decisions will be taken based on a prioritisation of schemes by the benefits they deliver, with as many schemes funded as budget availability allows.   

Grant funding will be awarded in line with the current grant rates for the FCERM Programme, as outlined in the Grant Memorandum. 

Work must be undertaken, completed and claimed for within the financial year the scheme is awarded funding. 

The list below provides examples of the types of FCERM work which would be eligible, however, if you have any queries about eligibility, please discuss with the Welsh Government Flood Team: 

• Minor works to existing flood and coastal risk management infrastructure e.g. improving trash screens/headwalls, relining culverts, restoring drainage systems, structural renovation works where properties are benefitting. 
• Minor new drainage and defence infrastructure works where properties are benefitting. 
• Property Level Protection – this should be installed on a community basis and must be supplied and fitted*.  A scheme solely for businesses would not be eligible. 
• Telemetry. 
• Natural Flood Management works (where costs are capitalised). 

*Many Property Level Protection schemes previously submitted have been subject to delays.

This may be due to issues such as access for surveys, procurement of products and installers, and engaging with numerous third parties (tenants, private owners, landlords, housing departments). LA must demonstrate they recognise and are able to manage the risk surrounding these types of schemes. 

Work which is not eligible for funding: 

• Schemes which only reduce risk to roads or other infrastructure. In line with our National Strategy, there must be benefit to homes and businesses, however reducing risk to roads and infrastructure could be a wider benefit of a scheme. 
• Revenue work e.g. awareness raising – this should be funded through the FCERM Revenue Grant. 
• Schemes with a cost over £300,000 (excluding ‘sunk’ design costs if undertaken as a part of the design phase through the SSWG programme). 
• Schemes which will run over more than one financial year, unless the “Scheme design” approach is used as detailed below. 
• Schemes intended to address river erosion where the responsibility lies with riparian landowners.
• Costs associated with responding to or recovering from flooding, e.g. sandbags, emergency call-out of staff to flood incident, clean-up work etc. 
• Works to non-FCERM infrastructure. 

Scheme design 

Undertaking design work upfront can provide a better idea of scheme costs and ultimately a better scheme, therefore we are content to consider applications for the design element alone of a SSWG scheme which you intend to construct the following financial year. In agreeing funding for design costs which need be completed within the financial year, please be aware of the following: 

• If design and construction can be completed within a single financial year both phases should be included in the same application. If this is not possible a separate application should be made for the construction phase in a later financial year. This must be done within two years of completion of the design phase. 
• If the scheme does not move to construction within two years of completion of the design, we reserve the right to claw back the funding provided for this phase. 
• There is no guarantee the funding will be available in a later financial year for the construction phase. 
• The cost of design and construction combined must remain below £300,000 in one financial year (excluding ‘sunk’ design costs if undertaken in a previous year as a part of the design phase through the SSWG programme).
• Design only works should be completed within one financial year and are limited to £50,000. These costs can be considered ‘sunk’ costs and do not factor into the overall cost of the subsequent construction phase.
• Single year construction or single year design and construction schemes are limited to £300,000 in total.

LAs are invited to submit an expression of interest application through Rural Payment Wales for individual schemes up to a maximum value of £50,000 for design only works or £300,000 for single year design and/or construction works per scheme. LAs can submit multiple applications for schemes which can be completed within the financial year. One expression of interest application form should be submitted per scheme.  

LAs must indicate an order of priority when submitting multiple applications. If no priority is provided, the FCERM team will prioritise schemes based on the greatest benefit to properties. Funding of schemes is not guaranteed and will depend on affordability.

Funding awarded cannot be carried forward to the following financial year and this should be considered when submitting applications, especially for any proposals involving work within watercourses. If a scheme is delayed and is unable to be completed by the end of the financial year, funding awarded will be lost, and there is no guarantee funding will be made available for the scheme in future years. 

Applications received will be prioritised considering the following factors: 

• Evidence of actual flood events or near-misses. 
• Total number of homes benefiting (priority to schemes of 2 or more homes).
• The estimated cost per home. 
• Wider benefits. 

Schemes must demonstrate good value for public money, therefore schemes where the cost per home is over £60,000, or where less than two properties benefit, will not be prioritised. 

Expression of interest applications will be invited once a year, usually in advance of the start of the next financial year to allow for grant contracts to be awarded from the first day of the new financial year. Applications for grant to support small scale works which arise outside the annual expression of interest application process may be considered by exception and on a case-by-case basis, subject to available funding. 

The simplified application process for SSWG schemes mean full funding is awarded in advance of design and construction. LAs are not required to provide the same evidence as they would do for a the main FCERM capital grant in advance of agreeing funding. However, all LAs are expected to comply with all necessary statutory consents and approvals when delivering these schemes. 

Wider benefits 

Wider benefits beyond flood risk management can be achieved through grant funded works, and these should be considered as part of the application process. Even though these schemes are small in nature, there are still wider benefits which can be achieved. For example, using local based contractors to carry out these works and develop skills, engaging with residents and schools, and supporting local businesses. 

All public bodies must comply with the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015.  It is therefore essential that you consider how the proposed works contribute to the wellbeing goals and the sustainable development principles and evidence this within the applications.   

When applying for funding, please provide specific examples of how the proposed work will provide wider benefits and contribute to the well-being goals. 

Whilst SSWG expression of interest applications provides a simplified process for lower value works, there is still a requirement to submit relevant data and information to support the application. Providing the necessary evidence with the application will assist the efficiency of the assessment process. 

Evidence to be submitted with expression of interest application forms should include (where appropriate): 

• Maps showing location of proposed works and properties benefitting. 
• Flood maps showing risk. 
• Section 19 reports. 
• Photos/evidence of past flooding and/or annotated maps showing how previous flooding incidents occurred (flow paths etc.). 
• Pre-construction photos of area affected by proposed works. 
• Reference to Local Flood Risk Management Strategies where appropriate. 

Failure to provide sufficient evidence may result in the application being delayed or rejected.

Claims will be requested twice a year in line with the following schedule: 

• Quarter 1: July – Forecast only
• Quarter 2: October – Claim and Progress Report
• Quarter 3: January – Forecast only
• Quarter 4: March – Final Claim and Progress Report

No Variations Orders will be accepted to increase grant value or extend the length of a SSWG. 

To provide some flexibility, there will be one grant award for multiple schemes. This allows for the reallocation funding between schemes if costs on some increase and others decrease up to the value of the grant awarded. However, each individual scheme must still be under £300,000 value and works are completed.

In instances where a scheme is no longer proceeding, the programme team must be notified prior to any reallocation of funds to alternative schemes. This is to ensure that any unutilised funding can be appropriately managed and where necessary, returned.

Where appropriate, any work funded through Welsh Government grants should be branded and show the Welsh Government logo. Costs associated with branding are eligible for grant funding. If you have any questions on whether a plaque is appropriate for your scheme, please contact the Welsh Government FCERM Branch. 

Further information and guidance on Welsh Government branding can be obtained from the Welsh Government Branding Team: BrandingQueries@gov.wales   

For further information on the SSWG, please contact the Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Branch at: FloodCoastalRisk@gov.wales