The River Severn Partnership has welcomed confirmation that the Government is committed to the final year of funding for designated flood alleviation projects across the Severn and Wye basins.
The £2.65bn ‘Plan for Change’ announcement includes £16m of funding for 30 schemes across the whole River Severn Partnership area including the Severn Valley Water Management Scheme (SVWMS) and the eight Shropshire Council-managed demonstrator projects that sit under it.
A spokesperson for the RSP said: “We are delighted the Government has re-affirmed its commitment to this funding. It gives the RSP and our partners involved in delivering these longstanding projects re-assurance and recognises the value of the extensive works that have been carried out to date.
“For the SVWMS, and its demonstrator projects in particular, it allows the programme to achieve its goal of developing a viable strategy for effective water management in the upper Severn and gives us the confidence to move forward with funding and finance initiatives that will deliver that strategy.
“Delivering the SVWMS strategy will be a major project and we are already exploring working cross-border with Welsh government and stakeholders.
“Funding and finance options, focused on attracting private investment, are being appraised alongside a future funding ask to Government to support delivery.”