The Caldon and Trent & Mersey canals have been Conservation Areas in Stoke since the 1990s. In 2010, the then Lord Mayor invited councillors and officers on a cruise through the local city waterways. It led to the creation of a City Canals Partnership who agreed that a review of local Conservation Areas was needed.

Over a few months a group (including officers from the city council’s planning department and IWA representatives) walked and cycled the waterways of the city. Subsequently, they met up for discussions.

As a result, Burslem Branch Canal is now part of the Trent & Mersey Canal Conservation Area, along with all former wharves. Similarly, a Canal Management Strategy now encourages the planning process to steer development in the canal corridor.

All of this pushed canals well up the agenda in the city. IWA North Staffordshire & South Cheshire Branch, alongside external consultants, worked on a Canal Opportunities Study. Consequently, the canal corridor picked up investment of over £1m for signage, towpath improvements and better facilities.