Emergency works grant: application guidance

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.

© Crown copyright 2026    
WG55308 
Digital ISBN 978-1-80853-352-5

Following previous major flood events, the Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) Programme has been able to provide emergency capital funding to Risk Management Authorities (RMAs) to repair flood infrastructure damaged by storms. This offer has always been subject to exceptional circumstances and the availability of capital funding.

The purpose of the FCERM Emergency Capital Works Grant is to enable local authorities and Natural Resources Wales (NRW) to bid for and utilise capital funding to repair and/or improve critical FCERM infrastructure which has been damaged by a named storm event or a period of significant adverse weather.

Please Note: This funding is distinct from the Emergency Financial Assistance Scheme for local authorities in Wales (EFAS). EFAS (formerly known as “Bellwin”) is a discretionary revenue scheme available to local authorities to assist with their immediate response costs. EFAS funding does not extend to capital investment works.

FCERM Emergency Capital Works

Despite the emergency nature of these works, many wider benefits in line with the Wellbeing Goals may be identified, 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 could indirectly support the Welsh language; and
• Use of in-house designers to reduce costs and promote skills within RMAs.

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

FCERM Emergency Capital Works Grants are for capital-based works only. Revenue activities, such as immediate clean-up and the issuing of sandbags etc, should be funded from either RMA reserves, the annual Revenue Support Grant (RSG), or may be submitted via the EFAS if the scheme is opened for the event.

FCERM emergency works should prioritise addressing the impacts of significant adverse weather events causing damage to existing FCERM capital infrastructure, which, if not promptly repaired, would pose significant risks to residents. The purpose of this funding is capital-based and intended specifically for the repair of capital infrastructure. The grant will be awarded at 100 per cent unless otherwise stated.

Examples of FCERM emergency capital works which will be eligible for funding:

• CCTV jetting and investigations.
• Localised repairs to drainage assets including culverts.
• Localised repairs to raised flood risk management assets such as bunds, embankments or walls.
• Monitoring equipment repairs – such as damaged inlet CCTV systems, depth sensors.
• Repairs to access/egress to critical flood assets.
• Costs associated with road closures when carrying out emergency repairs to FCERM assets which benefit properties.

Funding is contingent upon the availability of in-year capital across Welsh Government. No provision for emergency capital works is included within the annual flood budget. All funds must be fully spent within the financial year in which they are granted. Due to the annualised nature of flood budgets, funding cannot be carried forward or allocated across multiple financial years, unless otherwise stated.

RMAs are expected to make appropriate provision for such events within their own financial planning, and emergency funding should not be relied upon as a primary or recurring source of support.

Any delays encountered must be promptly communicated to the FCERM Programme Team. Works which cannot be addressed within an immediate timeframe or are not deemed emergencies under the requirements of the grant funding and require a longer timeframe or a more permanent solution, should consider alternative funding routes.

For such works, particularly those requiring further investigation to understand the cause of damage, impacts or failure, local authorities are encouraged to submit proposals to the annual FCERM Capital and Small-Scale Works Grant programmes. NRW should take the same approach within their annualised funding budget.  

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

Work which is not eligible for funding:

• Revenue activities which may be covered via the Emergency Financial Assistance programme or via local authority reserves.
• Emergency works required to safeguard dangerous structures that are not flood-related.
• Works that solely benefit businesses and or transportation.
• Works that are not emergency in nature and can reasonably be delivered via the Small-Scale Works Grant or main Capital FCERM programme at a later date.

Following a named storm event or a period of significant adverse weather and the announcement of funding availability, RMAs will be invited to apply for FCERM Emergency Capital Works funding. Applications should currently be submitted via the Flood and Coastal Risk Management mailbox (FloodCoastalRisk@gov.wales) by the deadline communicated to enable timely eligibility assessment. It is anticipated that the application process will move to the Rural Payments Wales (RPW) system in due course. RMAs will be notified of any change to the application process and provided with the relevant instructions.

The total funding available will be determined based on the scale of the event, overall funding availability across Welsh Government, and the value of proposals submitted by impacted authorities across Wales. Funding allocations will be prioritised according to the urgency of the works and the benefits delivered, with awards made within the limits of the available budget.

Officers from the FCERM Technical Appraisal and Flood Programme teams may contact applicants if further information or clarification is required to support the assessment process. Outcomes of funding applications will be communicated as soon as possible. Where proposed activities are deemed ineligible, Welsh Government officials may signpost applicants to alternative funding streams where appropriate.

To ensure a fair distribution of funding and to support a prompt response, a deadline for the return of applications will be communicated to all eligible RMAs. Following this deadline, an initial tranche of applications will be submitted for approval by Welsh Ministers.

Any 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. 
• The estimated cost per home. 
• Wider benefits.

Evidence to support applications 

While FCERM Emergency Capital Works funding is designed to support urgent works through a simplified application process, there remains a clear requirement to provide relevant data and supporting information. Submitting appropriate evidence alongside the application will help ensure a timely and efficient assessment process.

Evidence to be submitted with application forms should include, where applicable:

• Maps showing location of proposed works (including dimensions) and properties benefitting.
• Photographic Evidence of storm impacts to Flood infrastructure. 
• Section 19 reports (if available). 
• Reference to Local Flood Risk Management Strategies where appropriate. 

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

Claims and supporting documentation

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 variation orders will be accepted to increase the value of the grant or to extend the duration of the Emergency Capital Works Grant.

To provide some flexibility, a single grant award may cover multiple schemes, as in previous years. This allows for the reallocation of funding between schemes, provided the total value does not exceed the original grant award 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.

Claims should be submitted with the relevant supporting documentation, which includes but is not limited to:

• Progress report;
• Invoices for completed works;
• Staff time/ledger; and
• Photographs.

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.

FCERM Emergency Capital Works Grant 

For further information on the FCERM Emergency Capital Works Grant, please contact the Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Branch at FloodCoastalRisk@gov.wales 

Emergency Financial Assistance Scheme 

For further information on EFAS, please contact the Local Government Finance Policy Branch at LGFPmail@gov.wales 

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