Outcomes
report
Consultation on the emerging plan for the SVWMS
December 2025 to March 2026
April 2026
Purpose of this outcomes report
The Severn Valley Water Management Scheme (SVWMS) is a Strategy being developed in partnership with the Environment Agency, Powys County Council, Shropshire Council and Natural Resources Wales, seeking to reduce flood risk to people, land, business and infrastructure across the Upper Severn, as well as providing wide-ranging benefits across the catchment.
On 17 December 2025, we launched a consultation on our emerging plan. The consultation invited communities, stakeholders and partners across the catchment to provide their feedback on the three types of flood management interventions being explored; natural flood management, land use enhancement and temporary flood storage areas.
We have listened carefully to what you have told us, and we are using your feedback to shape the draft Strategy and inform our work. This document will set out what you shared during the consultation and explain what we have done, and what we are continuing to do, in response to that feedback.
If you would like to read about our emerging plan and what we have done so far, you can access it on our website here: Have Your Say Today - Severn Valley Water Management Strategy Public Consultation - Severn Valley Water Management Scheme
This document is structured as follows:
• Part 1: What you said
• Part 2: What we’re doing and next steps
Summary of our engagement on the emerging plan
In Winter 2025/26, we consulted on our emerging plan. Engagement involved:
• Consultation going live on the SVWMS website on 17 December 2025
• Drop-in events in Melverley, Bettws Cedewain, Welshpool, Shrewsbury, Caersws, Minsterley, Oswestry, Llanfyllin, and Llanidloes. These events ran from January to February 2026
• Hard copies of the consultation brochure available at libraries and leisure centres across the catchment, and support hubs set up at select libraries
• Press releases, social media updates, emails to mailing lists and meetings with professional partners to raise awareness of the consultation and drop-in events
• Attendance at Flood Action Group meetings, supported by the National Flood Forum
We received almost 100 submissions from organisations and individuals across the catchment, and nearly 220 people attended our drop-in events.
We would like to thank everybody that completed the consultation feedback form, provided their comments, attended drop-in events and engaged with us on the SVWMS. Your feedback is critical to shaping the ongoing development of the SVWMS.
What you said
Key messages that we heard during the engagement
What you said about…
The impact of flooding and drought
We heard that you care deeply about the places where you live and work, and you are concerned about the impact that flooding and drought can have on them.
You are concerned about the impacts flooding and drought have on the environment, the landscape, agriculture, food security, the local economy, access to services, housing, and the community.
We heard multiple stories about the impact that recent flood events have had on you and your community. We also heard about the critical role landowners and farmers play in mitigating flood risk now, and the impact this has on their way of life and on food security in the local area.
Some of you also raised concerns about what would happen in the event of Vyrnwy Reservoir overspilling, and the implications this could have for communities and proposed interventions in the area.
You are all broadly supportive of the SVWMS and its approach to reducing flood risk. However, you would like to ensure interventions do not increase flood risk locally and want to know more about how it will be funded and implemented.
Temporary Flood Storage Areas
Overall, you are supportive of temporary flood storage areas (tFSAs) but have asked for more information on how we have determined these are needed, where they will be located, the impacts they will have on the local area, and how they will be funded.
Several people did question the need for tFSAs, noting that other options such as clearing water courses, natural flood management and use of beavers should be investigated.
Several people asked for further information about the scale of proposed temporary flood storage areas and why they need to be the size they are.
People recognised that tFSAs will only be flooded during high rainfall events and agreed there would be benefits in using these areas for other activities such as grazing and recreation.
What you said about…
Natural flood management and land use enhancement
Overall, there was broad support for natural flood management (NFM) and land use enhancement (LUE), particularly as they offer multiple benefits to the environment and recreation. Several people asked for more information on the benefits these interventions would provide, including how they would enhance biodiversity and nature.
Opportunities for LUE and NFM were identified in many areas, including Upper Severn & Vyrnwy, Rea Brook, Trannon River, River Perry, Camlad, Teme Valley, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, Hyssington, River Tern, Marton Pool, and Llanidloes.
You highlighted the importance of working with farmers, as well as collaborating with local councils and infrastructure providers.
Working with landowners
You said that if the scheme is to succeed, it must work hand in hand with farmers, landowners, and communities who know and manage this land.
Landowners who host flood interventions on their land must be compensated fairly. Compensation needs to be transparent, funding sources must be identified, and a clear policy framework setting out the roles and responsibilities of both landowners and the SVWMS must be established early.
There were also practical concerns raised about the time that land takes to recover after flooding, and what this means for compensation arrangements and stock management during wet periods.
Respondents stressed that any interventions must be voluntary, and that landowners should be approached and consulted before plans are made public. Several people raised concerns about the potential use of compulsory purchase powers, which would undermine the trust and collaborative relationships the scheme depends on.
What you said about…
Working with the community
Overall, you are supportive of the scheme and are keen to stay involved to help shape it.
Farmers and landowners want to be engaged as partners in identifying where and how interventions are delivered. We agree that local knowledge is invaluable, and that those who work the land every day are best placed to help design solutions that will work in practice.
You are asking for greater clarity on timescales, next steps, and how decisions are being made. Several respondents requested more information to better understand the evidence base behind the emerging plan and to see a more detailed assessment of the options considered and their likely impacts.
While some acknowledged that this level of detail may not yet be available given the plan's current stage, the appetite for transparency is clear and should be met wherever possible.
What we’re doing
How we are responding to your feedback and the next stages of the SVWMS
Your feedback is shaping how the SVWMS develops. As a result of what you told us, we will:
Be clearer about what the Strategy will and will not do
We will clearly separate the role of the SVWMS Strategy (setting direction, options and funding opportunities) from the ongoing development of a Delivery Plan (which will confirm locations, designs and delivery approaches).
The delivery plan will continue to be developed after the SVWMS Strategy is completed and will involve continued close collaboration with communities, landowners and partners.
Commit to deeper, local-level analysis before decisions are made
As the delivery plan develops, we will carry out more detailed modelling, surveys and site visits/investigations, including detailed analysis of the behaviour of existing assets, to better understand local impacts before any interventions are confirmed.
Strengthen our approach to working with landowners
We can confirm that participation will be voluntary and that we will work directly with landowners to develop fair, transparent compensation and long-term arrangements.
We are working through what compensation, incentivisation and other mechanisms are needed to support delivery of interventions on lfand.
Continue exploring funding and delivery of the Strategy through the Marches Forward Partnership
The Marches Forward Partnership is exploring ways to help unlock funding, coordinate partners and support the long-term delivery of the SVWMS.
Ensure that the scheme is voluntary and commit to not using compulsory purchase powers
Interventions will only be taken forward through partnership working with landowners. SVWMS is not pursuing compulsory purchase orders.
Improve how we explain temporary flood storage areas
We are doing more work to explain why they may be needed, how they would operate, and how land could continue to be used outside of flood events.
Place greater emphasis on transparency and ongoing engagement
We will share information more clearly, involve communities earlier, and create more opportunities for people to stay involved as the plan develops.
Continue feeding learning from demonstrator projects into the SVWMS
We are using real-world projects across the catchment to learn what works in practice and to inform future decisions.
We want to hear more from you as the SVWMS develops
We heard many ideas from communities and stakeholders on how we could engage with you going forward, and we are currently using your feedback and working with partners to develop our engagement plan for the next phase.
Summer Events
We will be attending a number of events over the summer to promote the scheme and prepare for the next consultation. Please keep an eye on our website for more details: Have Your Say Today - Severn Valley Water Management Scheme – Commonplace
Winter 2026 Consultation
We will be launching our final consultation on the draft Strategy in winter 2026/2027
We welcome your thoughts If you have any ideas on how we can strengthen engagement, or how we can stay in contact with you and/or groups you are involved with, please contact us at SVWMS@environment-agency.gov.uk.
