Our challenges and opportunities

The River Severn Partnership area in statistics


  • Over £500 million spent during visits to the natural environment across the Partnership area

    Source: Natural England, Monitor of Engagement with the Natural Environment, Analysis of expenditure during visits (2015) (*excludes Wales)


  • Value of Carbon Capture from Broadleaf and Coniferous Woodland estimated at circa £1m per year for Partnership area

    Source: Natural Capital Tool, University of Exeter, Carbon Sequestration valuation based off social cost of carbon methodology


  • Around 1,000,000ha of Agricultural land generating farm profits of over £300m per annum but with around 82,000ha at Medium or High risk of fluvial flooding

    Source: Land Cover Map 2015 (based on Areas of Arable, Horticulture and Improved Grassland), Land Cover Map, EA Flood Zone 3 and NRW Flood Zone 3 and NEVO natural capital accounting tool, Exeter University


  • Over 47,000 residential properties and over 9,500 businesses at risk of fluvial flooding in the Partnership area which significantly increases when also considering surface water flooding risks

    Source: Environment Agency River Severn Partnership flood and economic impact analysis work


  • Current land value at risk of fluvial flooding estimated to be in excess of £30bn

    Source: Environment Agency River Severn Partnership flood and economic impact analysis work


  • Up to +1m increase in modelled flood levels for the River Severn by 2100, with predicted increases for the Wye, Teme and Warwickshire Avon of between 0.6-0.85m

    Source: Flood risk and costal change climate change allowances for planning, EA West Midlands Feb 2019


  • Average cost of current fluvial flooding in the Partnership area is estimated at over £28m per year with potential to directly affect up to 100,000 jobs

    Source: Environment Agency River Severn Partnership flood and economic impact analysis work


  • Daily water abstraction for public water supply across the Partnership area is equivalent to 600 olympic size swimming pools (1,500ML/d) with around 40 needed to support agriculture (100ml/D) and 26 to support industry (65ml/d) each day.

    Source: Environment Agency National Abstraction Licensing Database


  • Average forecast reduction in Natural Available Water Flows of 20%-25% by 2050 across the Partnership area as a whole

    Source: Environment Agency Water Resources GIS 2050 (excludes Wales)