Competitive funding schemes designed to support nature-based solutions (NbS) for flood management may be unintentionally deepening inequalities – with deprived communities at greater flood risk missing out on crucial protection.
The new study, co-authored by researchers from Loughborough, Leicester and Lincoln universities, has been published in high-impact factor journal Nature Communications: Earth & Environment.
Using natural processes, NbS reduces flood risk by slowing water flow, increasing water storage. From the restoration of wetlands, to planting trees and reconnecting rivers to their natural floodplains, these methods are increasingly promoted worldwide as cost-effective and climate-friendly ways to reduce flood risk while boosting biodiversity.
The research, in collaboration with universities of Leicester and Loughborough, identified that when such projects are funded through competitive tenders, wealthier communities are more likely to benefit.
The team analysed two UK Government programmes which allocated more than £40 million to flood management projects between 2017 and 2023.
They discovered that successful funding was favoured in wealthier areas, with applications and awarded projects disproportionately located in more affluent communities, leaving deprived areas underrepresented - despite often facing higher flood vulnerability.
At funding application stages, noted barriers were that areas with fewer community resources and technical expertise were less likely to apply successfully for funding.
The research has also identified a climate resilience gap; while NbS aim to deliver synergistic benefits such as improved wellbeing and greener local spaces, the current system risks reinforcing existing inequalities instead of reducing them.
Dr Tim Marjoribanks, Senior Lecturer in Water Engineering at Loughborough University, added: “It’s encouraging to see growing attention on nature-based solutions for tackling flooding.
“These approaches not only help reduce flood risk but can also bring wider benefits, such as boosting biodiversity.
“At the same time, the research highlights a need to ensure this shift to funding more natural flood management is implemented carefully to avoid unintended consequences.”
Former Loughborough PhD student, Bart Hill, now the project lead at the University of Lincoln, said: “This isn’t an argument against competitive tenders; it’s a call to modernise them.
“We need to balance cost-benefit with fairness, with equity considerations in the assessment process, funding to support grant applications and build capacity in deprived areas, and monitoring who benefits and where.
“By doing so, we can ensure nature-based solutions deliver protection where it’s needed most, not just where it’s easiest to implement.”
The study highlights an urgent need to rethink NbS funding mechanisms if they are to deliver on their promise of equitable climate adaptation and makes several recommendations for improvement.
These include simplifying the application process to support under-resourced communities, stratifying funding assessments to ensure deprived and high-risk areas are not overlooked.
In addition, the study suggests that embedding equity and inclusion into tender design – much like employment diversity standards – will better serve the needs of these rural areas.
With climate change predicted to increase the frequency and severity of flooding across the UK and globally, ensuring fair access to NbS funding is vital.
The researchers warn that without revision, competitive tendering could lock in a cycle where only affluent regions benefit from nature-led flood defences, continuing to leave vulnerable communities exposed.
The research is funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council Centre for Doctoral Training in Water and Waste Infrastructure Systems Engineered for Resilience (Water-WISER; EP/S022066/1).
The study is available to read online: www.nature.com/articles/s43247-025-02706-2
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Notes for editors
Press release reference number: 25/135
About Loughborough University
Loughborough is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines.
It has been awarded five stars in the independent QS Stars university rating scheme and named the best university in the world for sports-related subjects in the 2025 QS World University Rankings – the ninth year running.
Loughborough is ranked 7th in The UK Complete University Guide 2026, 10th in the Guardian University League Table 2025 and 10th in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025.
Loughborough was also named University of the Year for Sport in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025 - the fourth time it has been awarded the prestigious title.
Loughborough is consistently ranked in the top twenty of UK universities in the Times Higher Education’s ‘table of tables’, and in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 over 90% of its research was rated as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally-excellent’. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, Loughborough has been awarded seven Queen's Anniversary Prizes.
The Loughborough University London campus is based on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and offers postgraduate and executive-level education, as well as research and enterprise opportunities. It is home to influential thought leaders, pioneering researchers and creative innovators who provide students with the highest quality of teaching and the very latest in modern thinking.
About the University of Lincoln, UK:
Situated in the heart of a historic city, the University of Lincoln transforms lives and communities through teaching, research, and partnerships. We support students to thrive both academically and personally. Over a quarter of our subjects rank in the UK top 10 (Guardian University Guide 2025), and we hold a Silver award for Mental Health and Wellbeing (Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2025). In 2023, we received the Queen’s Anniversary Prize — the UK’s highest academic honour. Our strong ties with industry, including Siemens Energy, have earned national recognition. More than 75% of our research was rated internationally excellent or world-leading in REF 2021, underscoring our impact. We’re ranked in the global top 300 for progress on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (THE Impact Rankings), including 63rd for reducing inequalities. Lincoln also appears in the QS World Rankings (801–850 band), reflecting strengths in student experience and international collaboration. Almost £400 million has been invested in our modern, waterfront campus — a welcoming home to students from over 100 countries.
www.lincoln.ac.uk
About the University of Leicester:
The University of Leicester was the Daily Mail University of the Year 2025 and shortlisted for University of the Year for both the Times Higher Education Awards 2024 and the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025.
The University is led by discovery and innovation - an international centre for excellence renowned for research, teaching and broadening access to higher education. It is among the Top 30 universities in the Times Higher Education (THE)’s Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 rankings with 89% of research assessed as world-leading or internationally excellent, with wide-ranging impacts on society, health, culture, and the environment. In 2023, the University received an overall Gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023, making it one of a small number of institutions nationally to achieve TEF Gold alongside a top 30 REF performance. The University is home to more than 20,000 students and approximately 4,000 staff.
www.le.ac.uk
