England and Wales’ aging canal infrastructure is receiving emergency investment to combat mounting pressures from climate change and escalating maintenance costs threatening the 2,000-mile waterway network.
The Canal and River Trust will receive £6.5 million in government funding to extend the lifespan of critical assets including embankments, culverts and reservoirs across the historic system used by millions annually for recreation and access to nature.
Campbell Robb, Chief Executive of the Canal & River Trust, stated that increased extreme weather events and rising maintenance costs have placed additional strain on the nation’s canal infrastructure. The funding recognises the important role canals can play in building resilience, he added.
Industrial-age reservoirs feeding fresh water into canal systems will benefit from resilience improvements ensuring continued water supply. These include facilities serving the Birmingham Canal Navigations, Grand Union Canal, Huddersfield Narrow Canal, Leeds & Liverpool Canal, Peak Forest Canal and Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal.
The investment supplements the £52.6 million in annual government funding already provided to the Trust. The additional resources will enable essential works to proceed on schedule, supporting public safety whilst keeping waterways operational for boats and visitors.
Specific projects receiving funding include works on the Peak Forest Canal, Tame Valley Canal, and the lift bridge connecting London Docklands to the River Thames. The improvements aim to reduce future repair bills by addressing infrastructure vulnerabilities before they require more costly emergency interventions.
Water Minister Emma Hardy described the historic canals as world famous, precious to communities and a vital component of national infrastructure delivering environmental, social and economic benefits. The investment will help future-proof the network to withstand climate change challenges whilst maintaining safe and reliable public operations, she stated.
The 200-year-old waterway system faces ongoing pressure from weather extremes that were not anticipated when the infrastructure was originally constructed during the industrial era. The funding addresses the gap between the network’s Victorian-era design specifications and contemporary climate realities.
Robb noted that whilst built in the industrial age, a resilient canal network is positioned to help meet modern societal challenges. He highlighted the potential for navigable canals to store and move water domestically, transferring supplies from areas with excess to regions experiencing shortages.
The investment represents recognition that the canal system’s role extends beyond heritage preservation and recreational amenity to encompass practical water management infrastructure with relevance to contemporary supply challenges. Implementation of the funded projects will proceed according to the Trust’s prioritisation of critical infrastructure needs and public safety requirements.
