The River Severn Partnership (RSP) is celebrating a landmark year of delivery, with major strides made in policy influence, community engagement, and multi-benefit water management and digital innovation across the Severn and Wye Catchment.
All RSP members shared a briefing on the exciting work undertaken across the partnership area over the past year alongside the future delivery plans shaping cross sectoral and cross border collaboration in the year ahead.
The River Severn Adaptation Pathways Pilot (Severn 2100+) reported on how it has trialled a climate adaptation planning approach in two areas, upstream and downstream, in the Severn catchment.
This project is part of the £200m Flood & Coastal Innovation Programme (FCIP), funded by Defra and managed by the Environment Agency (EA).
Adaptation planning is essential in the face of climate uncertainty, enabling low-regret decisions that prepare for a range of futures.
The project leads have presented their findings to an international audience.
The River Severn Partnership Advanced Wireless Innovation Region, having recently secured a national industry award, reported on the breadth of its work across three different sectors, water management, agri-tech and the public sector and how advanced wireless technologies are being harnessed to increase efficiency and delivery across partners, landowners and regulators.
The Severn Valley Water Management Scheme showed how its eight demonstrator projects are leading the way in both delivery on the ground and in proving the longer-term value of nature-based solutions, even at a small scale, in water management and building flood resilience.
This work is helping to shape the Severn Valley Water Management Scheme as a wider strategy for the whole upper Severn, which the Partnership is keen to support in public consultation towards the end of the year.
Marc Lidderth, co-chair of the RSP, said: “The RSP’s strength lies in its scale and collaboration, recognised both in the two national awards received last year alongside the further awards the partnership is now receiving across individual delivery programmes.
“With partners spanning Mid Wales, Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin, Herefordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire, the partnership is delivering flagship initiatives including the Severn Valley Water Management Scheme and the River Severn Advanced Wireless Innovation Region.
“These projects exemplify how joined-up working can unlock investment and innovation and amplify impact.”
The next 12 months will see RSP scale up delivery across its programme, with a focus on:
· Accelerating nature-based flood resilience schemes
· Driving new funding approaches and cross border working between England and Wales
· Expanding digital innovation through the Advanced Wireless Innovation Region
· Deepening community engagement and co-design
· Strengthening links with national policy to influence future water and climate strategies
Marc added: “This vision is built around seeing the river system as an asset, which can foster exceptional quality of life, support prosperous local economies and growth, and ensure an outstanding natural environment. A key approach is driving innovation to reduce flood risk, secure water resources, and enhance shared natural assets.”