Broads Authority to bid for share of £150m landscape fund
They could get up to £10 million
The Norfolk Broads could benefit from a new £150m pot of funding to help protect the UK’s protected landscapes.
Officials at the Broads Authority are preparing to make a bid for the National Lottery cash, which could bring in £10m.
The funds would be a welcome boost to the organisation, which is facing significant pressure on its budget.
Under the Landscape Connections scheme, about 20 projects in the UK could receive a portion of the money, which is aimed at helping protect national parks and other protected landscapes through supporting habitats and removing barriers to access.
Eilish McGuinness, chief executive of the National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “This is an ambitious initiative and represents a major commitment by the National Lottery Heritage Fund to not only preserve our natural heritage but to reinvigorate and protect it for future generations.”
The Broads Authority is hoping to begin formulating its bid to receive a portion of the cash and is set to discuss the proposal at a forthcoming meeting.
In a report to members, officials said: “This is an incredible opportunity for the Broads Authority to improve upon the celebrated work that we were able to achieve through the previous National Lottery funding.
“It would allow us to work across the entirety of the Broads, including the northern Broads, the entire city of Norwich and into the catchment.
“The funding allows for us to engage areas outside of the Broads area and we have been encouraged to look beyond political boundaries to impacts across a larger area.”
Receiving the money would be of huge benefit to the BA, which is having to make cuts to its services this year that include less dredging work and ranger patrol hours.
Members will discuss the project at a Broads Authority meeting on January 24.