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The plans, which have been costed at £1.2bn, will see the company commit to a range of pledges and schemes designed to reduce emissions, improve the environment and support customers.

The commitments include:

• Boosting biodiversity in 5,000 hectares of land – roughly equivalent to half of Coventry, two-thirds of Nottingham or all of Gloucester – by 2027. Projects include:
  •  Planting 1.3 million trees to both improve the environment and to help reduce flooding;
  • Working with the RSPB in Sherwood Forest to improve and preserve some of the ancient woodlands;
  • Working on over 600 hectares in the Bamford catchment in the Peak District to increase biodiversity through moss planting and gully blocking; and
  • We’ll be working with Warwickshire and Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trusts on enhancing and creating habitats on over 400 hectares;
• Delivering our Triple Carbon Pledge of net zero emissions, 100% energy from renewable sources, and 100% electric fleet by 2030;
• Working with two-thirds of farmers in our region to adopt nature-based solutions to reduce pollutants which will help water quality;
• Supporting 195,000 customers each year who struggle to pay their bills by 2025; and
• Creating the Severn Trent Community Fund, which will donate more than £10m over the next five years to projects in our local communities.

Liv Garfield, Severn Trent Chief Executive, said: “To truly make a difference we need to look after nature and the precious resources it provides, we need the most talented and engaged minds helping us drive performance, and we need customers who trust us to do the right thing for their communities.

“By committing to invest £1.2 billion in the next five years, we believe we can make a real difference to the environment and to the people we serve.”

Over the past five years, Severn Trent has:

• Self-generated more than 50% of its own energy needs from renewable sources;
• Reduced net carbon emissions by 40%; and
• Invested £350m in improving a third of the rivers in our region. 

Notes to editors

Breakdown of cost of commitments:

Triple Carbon Pledge                  £200m

Restoring the natural habitat     £700m

Managing water scarcity             £250m

Our role in society                        £50m