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New Urban Nature-based Solutions Fund: Call for Expressions of Interest

Local Authorities invited to identify urban Nature-based Solutions projects for delivery in 2026.

A new national Urban Nature-based Solutions (NbS) Fund is due to launch in early 2026. The fund is supported by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and will be administered by the Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO).

Ahead of the fund launch, LAWPRO is inviting Local Authorities to submit expressions of interest (EOIs) to identify urban-focused Nature-based Solutions projects that can be delivered by the end of 2026. The call has a particular focus on rainwater management and water quality.

Urban NbS Call for expressions of interest 2026

Potential projects could include footpath upgrades or kerb buildouts, carparks and projects complimentary to Active Travel, housing or regeneration projects, which incorporate NBS elements that will deliver water quality benefits.

This fund is in response to and builds on the work LAWPRO has undertaken with colleagues in Local Authorities, including the Town Centre First and Regeneration Teams Nature-based Solutions – Local Authority Waters Programme.

Funding and delivery timeline

For 2026, the average anticipated funding amount is €100,000 per Local Authority, although this may vary depending on the number and scale of projects submitted. LAWPRO anticipates that funding will increase beyond 2026 as it establishes a robust national pipeline of Nature-based Solutions projects.

The deadline for submissions of Expressions of Interest (with project information) has now been extended by one week to Friday the 30^th of January 2026.

For queries or clarification, please contact the LAWPRO Nature-based Solutions Team at: nbsprojects@lawaters.ie

Update as of 21 January 2026

Following on from a number of queries received from Local Authorities, LAWPRO wish to clarify that there is no specific monetary limit per Local Authority with respect to this call. However, they have indicated below an average anticipated funding amount per Local Authority of €100k, but this will be largely guided by the volume of project submissions received and the approved allocation from the DHLGH for 2026.

In terms of project submissions under this call there is a limit of €100k per project but no limit on the number of projects that can be submitted per Local Authority. See also section 2 Funding Level & Eligibility within the Guidance Document provided in the link on the call email below. Submissions are on a project-by-project basis.

Additionally, and FYI, the intention after the 30th January 2026, would be to engage directly with the dedicated point of contact for each Local Authority to discuss submissions and project information received. See also Section 4.2 of the Guidance Document provided for the call.

Urban NbS Call for expressions of interest 2026

About author

EPA Catchments Unit

Administrator

The EPA Catchments Unit is based in Dublin, and the team is involved with catchment science, chemistry, ecology, hydromorphology, modelling, Geographic Information Systems and planning. We work with the wider EPA, all of our local authorities, the Local Authority Waters and Communities Office, the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, and other public bodies and Departments to ensure we have the best available data and information about our catchments.

Who is involved?
Quite simply, everyone in Ireland has a role to play. This can be from something as simple as making sure you don’t pollute your local stream, or a local community working together to establish a Rivers Trust to enhance the rivers and lakes in their area, to a Government Department or Agency helping a Minister implement a new policy to help protect and enhance all our water bodies.

This website has been developed and is maintained by the Environmental Protection Agency, and is a collaboration between the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Local Authority Waters Programme.

Local Authority Waters Programme

The Local Authority Waters Programme coordinates the efforts of local authorities and other public bodies in the implementation of the River Basin Management Plan, and supports local community and stakeholder involvement in managing our natural waters, for everyone’s benefit.

Environmental Protection Agency

The EPA is responsible for coordinating the monitoring, assessment and reporting on the status of our 4,842 water bodies, looking at trends and changes, determining which waterbodies are at risk and what could be causing this, and drafting environmental objectives for each.

Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The Department is responsible for making sure that the right policies, regulations and resources are in place to implement the Water Framework Directive, and developing a River Basin Management Plan and Programme of Measures to protect and restore our waters.