River Severn Partnership Unlocking opportunities for the Severn Regional Growth Zone Rivers Severn, Wye, Teme and Warwickshire Avon River Severn Partnership Welcome to the River Severn Partnership. A transformational partnership bringing together multiple organisations, resources and skills to drive resilient and sustainable economic growth along Britain’s longest river network, creating the Severn Regional Growth Zone. We recognise the unique role We are all faced with significant Our integrated masterplan for the of this river network both as a challenges from natural events such Severn Regional Growth Zone wonderful natural asset but also as as flooding and drought which are will create a strong platform for the foundation and indeed catalyst increasing with climate change. certainty, growth and stability. It will for resilience and wellbeing. Policy implications around leaving also enable us to better protect and the European Union will mean we enhance the natural environment for It is well known for its beautiful need greater reliance on good the future. historic riverside locations, World regional agricultural performance Heritage river-based assets, four and food production. And of course We have the vision, commitment Areas of Outstanding Natural we have an urgent need to bounce and evidence of opportunity and Beauty, strong agricultural back from the Covid-19 pandemic. now need £9.7 million to develop base dependent on the water an integrated masterplan and environment, and the multiple tourist We recognise we are at a investment plan that enables the attractions driven by the river, not turning point. We need a new, Partnership to act, unlocking the least the Severn Bore. truly collaborative approach with potential of the region. Government which provides the The river network impacts on us catalyst to enable us to build back This investment will identify capital all, both directly and indirectly, but better, ensure infrastructure works projects and programmes worth is fundamentally the one thing that harder to deliver more and that we in the order of £1 billion which will binds us all together. Harnessing harness the wealth of academic and deliver benefits in excess of this uniting strength, we believe the innovation opportunities that this £100 billion GVA over the next River Severn Partnership offers a functional area provides. 20 years. huge opportunity. “The River Severn Partnership is a unique and exciting collaboration of partners working together to achieve shared outcomes. As Chairman of the Wyre Forest ReWyre Board I recognise the immense opportunity this project offers to act as a catalyst to drive further economic growth along the entire geography of the Mike Grimes Mark Barrow partnership area.” River Severn Partnership Joint Chair and Area Director River Severn Partnership Joint Chair and Executive Director of Place Environment Agency West Midlands Shropshire Council Neil Morris, Commercial Director, OGL Computer Services Group and Chairman of ReWyre Board 1 | River Severn Partnership 2 | River Severn Partnership The Opportunity Outcomes Our partnership creates a platform for year-on-year sustainable economic By 2040 in growth that is underpinned by a strategic approach to water management. excess of 1372ha £1.8Bn 47,200 £46.5Bn £100 billion of new housing direct economic new homes indirect economic in GVA uplift land released benefit from housing over 20 years benefit from housing Housing We have completed a Not only will land be made available Benefits from our integrated comprehensive, holistic review for growth through a programme infrastructure programme across the across the economy of the counties of integrated infrastructure, but Severn Regional Growth Zone will 687ha £38.5Bn of further land released for of direct economic who are existing partners in the confidence in investment in the include: non-residential development - benefit from new River Severn Partnership. region will be strengthened. £280M of uplifted land value commercial space µ The direct benefit of bringing more Commercial There are close to 600,000 people We will harness the unique than 2,000 ha of land back into living in major settlements along the attributes of Britain’s longest river use to promote economic growth 120K+ £4Bn length of the rivers contributing network, including its heritage and across all sectors of the economy. 121,000 jobs GVA from a combined annual GVA of recreational assets, its diverse created construction µ Direct economic benefits Jobs £30.8 billion. habitats and its climate adaptation generated by the major potential as a heat and cooling infrastructure programme of We believe that it is possible to bring resource. works itself. an additional 36,000ha of land 34,000ha >£15Bn back into economic contribution The wider local, regional, national, µ Indirect benefits created by of agricultural land released - existing natural increased investment and £800M uplifted land value capital directly adjoining the rivers to indeed the overarching societal Agriculture and investor/developer confidence contribute to economic growth rising economic benefits far outweigh the , Environment to an additional £11.16 billion of investment in infrastructure projects resulting from flood risk GVA per annum. needed to create these sustainable certainty. This will accelerate the £9M £152M development and delivery of new Additional average annual GVA losses from growth conditions. GVA losses with climate change flooding to target We can demonstrate how our projects planned by all partners in Flooding ambition for growth is enabled by the River Severn Partnership. integrated planning and delivery µ Improvements across the board of infrastructure to manage winter in terms of local community £600M flooding and summer droughts. performance driven through wellbeing gain greater health, wellbeing and Wellbeing prosperity outcomes. Alongside the national ambitions to boost productivity and level up growth, this infrastructure investment could 2997 positively impact on 27 out of the 46 apprentice and Welsh Government National Indicators re-training roles for Wales, highlighting the cross border Education joint working potential and value. 3 | River Severn Partnership 4 | River Severn Partnership River Severn Partnership Our Vision The Severn Regional Growth Zone presents an unprecedented opportunity for Government to capitalise on an established union of partners with a shared ambition for resilient growth. Our Vision: to make the Severn Catchment Britain’s most vibrant and resilient river network; where an exceptional quality of life, prosperous local economies and an outstanding natural environment is driven by a programme of innovation to reduce flood risk, secure water resources and improve and deliver shared natural assets. In the context of the Climate The region suffers significant and Our integrated masterplan for the Emergency, the challenges and recurring flooding, most recently Severn Regional Growth Zone will opportunities presented by leaving in February 2020, as well as water identify an accelerated programme the European Union and the resource challenges to support of integrated water management pressing need for a green recovery agriculture and other sectors, both infrastructure which will address from Covid-19, by working together, of which will be exacerbated under constraints and target areas of we will realise a £11.4 billion GVA future climates. mutual benefits across housing, per annum uplift. energy, transport, agriculture and In addition, as a rural economy, the other sectors. This will be achieved by delivering region faces challenges around a programme of enabling, water low levels of productivity, and how In turn, the delivery of our management infrastructure. This to unleash the full potential of our masterplan will unlock the potential will unlock existing and new people and communities to thrive. of the Severn Regional Growth Zone, opportunities for growth, enhance In addressing these challenges, the creating resilient and vibrant places “The River Severn Partnership represents a truly exciting and natural assets and improve habitat Partnership will move from reactive to live, work and enjoy. innovative opportunity to provide a long term programme of skills development and biodiversity. risk management to proactive asset management, recognising the The River Severn Partnership in water management. I can see the Partnership acting as a significant catalyst The Severn region has a long history positive role of the river network. integrates delivery around climate for apprenticeships, degree apprenticeships and other learning. The impact and of growth which has traded on the resilience, Local Industrial Strategy reach of this work could well lead to a national transformation of skills in water river network, from historic riverside We support an holistic, ecosystem ambitions and key objectives of the locations, industrial heritage, diverse approach to resilient place based 25 Year Environment Plan, management. This represents a really important response to the climate change agriculture, and important tourism growth which provides a strong well-being goals of Wales and agenda and towards achieving the UN SDGs in building capacity for dealing with assets. The river network, however, foundation for environmental United Nations Sustainable water related issues, such as flooding and drought.” also poses many challenges. resilience and collaboration. Development Goals. Professor David Proverbs, Birmingham