Statement re Director Retirement

Severn Trent Plc

5 May 2004

Severn Trent Plc today announced that Alan Perelman will be retiring from the
role of Group Finance Director, effective 31 August 2004, and retiring from the
company on 30th September, 2004. He will be replaced as Group Finance Director
by Mark Wilson, currently Director of Finance and Regulation, Severn Trent
Water, from 1st September, 2004.

The Group also announced that David Arculus would be standing down from the
Board after more than six years as Chairman at the end of December 2004.

Mr Arculus said: 'I would like to thank Alan for his dedicated service to
Severn Trent and wish him well in his retirement'.

'We are fortunate to have Mark Wilson as his replacement. His experience in
Severn Trent Water, and the regulatory review process in particular, will be
invaluable going forward'.

'As for my own position, I believe it will be the right time for me to stand
down at the end of the year. Before then the Board will have appointed my
successor, and a successor to Robert Walker who retires as Group Chief
Executive in February 2005, and the water regulatory review process should have
been substantially completed'.

For further information contact:

Peter Gavan

Director of Corporate Affairs

Severn Trent Plc

0121 722 4310

Footnote:

Mark Wilson, aged 46, joined Severn Trent Water as Director of Finance and
Regulation in 1995. Previously he had worked for Arthur Andersen both in London
and Hong Kong and International Leisure Group. Born in Ilford, Essex, he
graduated from University College, Bangor. He became a member of the Institute
of Chartered Accountants in 1983.

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