Arup and Rivers Trust partner to strengthen river catchment resilience across the UK

The partnership brings together Arup’s expertise in resilient infrastructure, catchment approaches, systems planning and policy with The River Trust’s deep experience in catchment management and freshwater restoration. Together, the organisations will work to enhance and protect river systems, combining strategic insight with practical delivery.

At the centre of the collaboration is a shared ambition to scale up the use of nature-based solutions (NBS) across the UK, building on growing adoption to support wider implementation. Arup and The Rivers Trust aim to demonstrate how these approaches can reduce flood risk, improve water quality, enhance biodiversity and support thriving communities.

Building on existing collaboration to scale NBS, the partnership will expand its focus to advance regional systems planning, embedding both these approaches into catchment planning to support water systems in adapting to climate and environmental change. The partners will demonstrate how NBS can be delivered at scale, while advancing regional systems planning to ensure resilience is considered from the outset. They will also contribute to shaping government policy and investment by evidencing effective, scalable approaches to resilience.

By working across policy, planning and implementation at pace, Arup and The Rivers Trust aim to support the transition to more resilient, nature-positive water systems that deliver benefits for people, wildlife and the economy.

Mark Fletcher, Global Water Business Leader at Arup, commented: “Together, we at Arup and The Rivers Trust are building a partnership that harnesses our collective expertise to drive bold, nature‑based solutions and create healthier, more resilient river systems. We look forward to the impact this collaboration will deliver over the coming years.”

Amina Aboobakar, Strategy & Stewardship Director at The Rivers Trust, commented: “We want our rivers and our environment to be fit for the future, and that resilience must be embedded in the built environment. That’s why we’re really pleased to be working with Arup to scale up the adoption of nature-based solutions and help rivers and communities to thrive.”