I would return to severe area (8)
I believe the answer is:
district
'area' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'i would return to severe' is the wordplay.
'i would' becomes 'I'd'.
'return' says the letters should be written backwards.
'to severe' becomes 'strict' (I've seen this before).
'id' backwards is 'di'.
'di'+'strict'='DISTRICT'
(Other definitions for district that I've seen before include "Region marked off for administrative or other purposes" , "London Underground line represented in green" , "Locality" , "Area of town/country" , "Area (of a town/city)" .)