Evenlode Landscape Recovery
Project Summary
- Project Value: £75 million- £20-30 million equity investment sought
- Timescale: 1st September 2025 – September 2055
- Status: Investment Ready
- Contact: tim.coates@dunthrop.co.uk
The Evenlode Landscape Recovery Project, led by the North East Cotswold Farmer Cluster CIC, aims to restore the habitats of (the Evenlode, Glyme and Dorn) rivers, to deliver clean water, natural flood management, carbon sequestration, nature recovery and related social outcomes.
Outcomes
- The Evenlode project will recover around 4,000 hectares of Oxfordshire's natural landscape
- River habitats will be restored along the Evenlode, Glyme and Dorn rivers by reconnecting them to the floodplain. protecting and encouraging species to return
- Floodplain meadows, wet woodlands, and calcareous grasslands will all be restored, supported by afforestation aligned to Lawton biodiversity principles
- Around 1,000,000 tCO2e will be sequestered through the scheme in just over 30 years
- Ten direct permanent jobs will be created along with skills sharing opportunities with other areas
- Water quality will improve as sediment, nitrate and phosphate leakage is reduced
- The Evenlode will create the UK’s largest flood management scheme, protecting properties and infrastructure across the catchment and downstream of the city of Oxford
- The project is a pilot with Oxfordshire County Council, to enhance community wellbeing by opening more landscape to public access
Other information
Organisation
This project is led by the North East Cotswold Farmer Cluster (NECFC) (working closely with DEFRA).
Total Cost
The project cost is £75m.
Remaining
A £20-30m equity investment is required.
ROI
The investment return is expected to be 12%.
Timeline
This project is due to run from 1st September 2025 to September 2055.
Land Ownership
Existing landowners and managers are all shareholders, and will be paid a participation payment for the first 20 years of the project, subject to certain habitat conditions being met. They will then share in the total proceeds of the project.
Revenue Streams
These include a range of carbon units, Biodiversity Net Gain, water quality, natural flood management, recreation, health and education.
Supporting Information
A range of environmental permits are required, and applications are in process. To de-risk the project, a guaranteed revenue offtake has been agreed with DEFRA. In addition, a first-of-a-kind insurance is being brokered to transfer the risk of extreme climate events.