To All Severus Supporters,

In 2024 you kindly contributed to the remarkable community effort to Save Severus Hill. We want to thank you for the generosity of your support and your patience as the future of the site remained uncertain. We are now in a position to update all our supporters.

After much correspondence, The Friends of Severus Hill finally met with Yorkshire Water’s Corporate Affairs team for a resolution meeting. The outcome of the meeting was unexpected and can be summarised in the statement from Yorkshire Water below:

“Following investigations by Yorkshire Water, the utility has decided to retain the land at Severus Hill, York, as its strategic location offers water resilience and sustainability for the city of York and the wider community.

Yorkshire Water recognises the Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC) status of the site and future works would be undertaken with this in mind and in conversation with the local community and The Friends of Severus Hill, who have campaigned to preserve this as an important green space for local wildlife.

Yorkshire Water and The Friends of Severus Hill will continue to discuss any future plans for the site, which may include some remediation work on the existing water tower and the potential to create a below-ground reservoir to ensure the long-term supply of drinking water for the city. This won’t take place until the next cycle of planning from 2030 onwards.” END OF STATEMENT

We’re sure your first reaction will be a sense of disappointment, as was ours. The community effort to Save Severus Hill was incredible, and you were an important part of us raising the profile of the hill. On reflection, as The Friends of Severus Hill we have come to believe Yorkshire Water’s decision does have some positive outcomes:

• The site will remain a green space, without threat of development, for at least 5 years.

• Yorkshire Water are actively pursuing a working relationship with the Friends of Severus Hill going forward.

• Yorkshire Water now recognise both the importance of the SINC status and the communities’ passionate interest in the site.

• Any future plans for the site will be in consultation with the community and subject to the SINC and Biodiversity makeup of the site.

• There is now no immediate risk of housing development.

Beyond these positives, in our meetings Yorkshire Water also expressed a desire to work with the community to understand the site better, perhaps with the support of other regional nature based and cultural organisations.

We all benefit from the running water in our homes, and Severus Hill reverting back to being used for this purpose – whilst hopefully also remaining a green space – is perhaps a demonstration of its importance to the city of York

So, what next….

It’s clear that The Friends of Severus Hill will need to remain an active party in the championing and observation of the site. Many ‘Friends of’ groups do not own the land they look to protect, and this will become the focus of the group. To work with other parties to better understand the site and to ensure Yorkshire Water’s actions are in consultation with, and where necessary challenged by, the community.

You kindly donated to our Crowdfunder campaign under the mandate of The Friends of Severus Hill purchasing the hill. Therefore, it is important at this juncture for us to offer you a full reimbursement of your donation (please see details below). However, if you are happy for your funds to remain a donation towards the ongoing work of The Friends of Severus Hill we will require your consent for this change of purpose.

Whatever you decide, please know again that we are hugely appreciative of your generosity and commitment to the protection of this wonderful historical and natural space. Our work must continue to ensure the community has a voice in the ongoing protection of this special hill.

PLEASE CLICK THE LINK BELOW to inform us of how you would like us to treat your donation.

https://forms.gle/U5Mu482omEHaJctK8

Thank you again and please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions or ongoing observations around Severus Hill. We'd be very happy to hear from you with any ideas, thoughts, reflections or just comments: Friendsofseverushill@outlook.com

Thank you for being a Friend to the Hill.

The Friends of Severus Hill