If you live anywhere near the River Severn, you don’t need reminding that flooding has become a real headache in recent years. From roads disappearing under water to fields turning into temporary lakes, the impact has been huge for residents, farmers, and businesses alike. Shropshire’s charm has always been tied to its rivers, but those rivers have been becoming a lot less predictable.

That’s why the Severn Valley Water Management Scheme (SVWMS) has popped up everywhere recently. They’re rolling out their emerging plan in early 2026, and it’s something worth paying attention to if you live, work, or farm in the area.

Why is this happening now?

According to recent data (and honestly, if you’ve looked out the window lately, you probably don’t need data to confirm it), the Upper Severn catchment is seeing more intense, frequent floods than ever before. The SVWMS estimates that during major flood events, the area may need to temporarily store up to 100 million cubic metres of water, which is 40,000 Olympic swimming pools worth.

In other words… it’s a lot. And without new interventions, communities will continue to bear the brunt of it.

What’s the plan?

The SVWMS isn’t just thinking about big engineering projects. They’re also exploring nature-based solutions, working with local landowners, and trying to design an approach that respects rural life and farm businesses rather than disrupting them.

Jake Berriman from Powys County Council summed it up well: the goal is to work with existing practices, not bulldoze straight through them. Flooding hits farmers particularly hard, and with food production being so crucial across this whole area, the strategy aims to not only manage water but also support long-term economic resilience.

It’s not just about stopping floods; it’s about futureproofing the whole region.

Want to have your say? Here are the dates

SVWMS is holding nine public information sessions across Shropshire and Powys. Think of these as drop-in sessions where you can ask questions, raise concerns, or simply get a clearer picture of what’s being proposed.

Here’s the lineup for the rest of 2026:

  • Jan 20 – Shrewsbury (Theatre Severn, SY3 8FT)
  • Jan 28 – Caersws (Presbyterian Church, SY17 5EN)
  • Jan 30 – Minsterley (Parish Hall, SY5 0EH)
  • Feb 4 – Oswestry (Oswestry Cricket Club, SY11 2AY)
  • Feb 9 – Llanfyllin (Library Youth & Community Centre, SY22 5DB)
  • Feb 12 – Llanidloes (Hanging Gardens Project, SY18 6BS)

If you can’t attend in person, the consultation materials are also available online, plus in local libraries and leisure centres in both Powys and Shropshire.

The consultation runs until 11 March 2026, so there’s time to get your views in, but it’s definitely worth engaging sooner rather than later.