Grant or payment · England
Water Management Grant (new round)
Grants to build on-farm reservoirs and water storage for irrigation, mainly for horticulture and arable farms.
- From
- Defra / RPA
- How much
- Up to £15m budget for the new round. (Round 2 was £35,000 to £500,000 per applicant; new round terms not yet published.)
- Who can apply
- Not yet published.
What you’ll need
- Abstraction licence plans
- Planning advice for reservoirs
How to apply
- Wait for guidance on GOV.UK
Announced 14-15 August 2026 as part of drought support: 'expected to open in the autumn'. No date confirmed as of 29 October 2026. Round 2 is closed.
Similar schemes
- Bespoke Water Quality Improvement Projects Scheme OpenThames WaterLarger contributions for farm projects that bring big, long-term water quality improvements.
- Catchment Fund OpenThames Water · Closes 30 November 2026Part-funding for farm work that cuts nitrate and herbicide pollution of drinking water sources in priority catchments.
- River Health and Community Fund OpenThames WaterGrants for community projects that engage people with rivers or improve them.
- River Stour Phosphorus Reduction Scheme OpenWessex WaterAnnual payments and one-off funding for farm changes that cut phosphorus run-off, such as arable reversion to grass, herbal leys, buffer strips, beetle banks, hedges, trees and wetlands.
- STEPS 2026 (Severn Trent Environmental Protection Scheme) OpenSevern Trent · Closes 11 December 2026Grants for soil health, soil structure, watercourse protection, better use of inputs, livestock management and keeping soil and nutrients in the field, plus a Farmer Innovation option.
- Tone, Parrett and Yeo Phosphorus Reduction Scheme OpenWessex WaterAnnual payments for farm changes that cut phosphorus run-off in the Somerset Tone, Parrett and Yeo sub-catchments.
Checked against the official pages on 29 October 2026. Sources: 1, 2, 3. Always read the official page before you apply.