Environment and sustainability

EU funding can support projects which protect, enhance and provide access to the natural environment. Projects which improve sustainability may also be funded, from new schemes to improve transport sustainability, to projects which reduce carbon consumption for individual businesses.

Project examples

The 2007-13 EU funding period supported low carbon projects across many programmes. REV Active, a Breckland Council-led project which received £1.25m from the European Regional Development Fund, provided advice to businesses on how to reduce their carbon emissions, and drive down business overheads. It gave grants of up to £1,500 to enable businesses to carry out some of the recommendations. For example, Norton's Dairy in Frettenham received a grant towards the £15,000 cost of installing new cheese making equipment (PDF, 1 MB) which reduced their water and energy consumption.

STEP was a sustainable tourism project involving four partners from Belgium, the Netherlands, and the Broads Authority in the UK. Supported by the Interreg 2 Seas programme, STEP implemented a number of initiatives to promote sustainable transport and leisure within the natural landscapes managed by the partner organisations.

The Broads Authority have worked extensively with European partners on projects to protect and promote unique natural habitats

Funds to consider

Interreg Va France (Channel) England programme is looking for projects which 'enhance and protect the coastal and transitional water ecosystems'.
Interreg 2 Seas programme is looking for projects which create 'an economically competitive, attractive and accessible area', promote and enhance 'a safe and healthy environment' and improve quality of life.
ERDF has funding ringfenced for Norfolk and Suffolk for projects which support businesses with low carbon initiatives.