On Tuesday 13th May, under the secretariat of IWA, the Waterways APPG convened to hear expert evidence from the Wilts and Berks Canal Trust and the Buckingham Canal Society.
13 MPs and their representatives attended to learn about the benefits of waterway restoration, citing the 50 canal restoration projects around the country. He gave the example of the economic benefits of the Kennet and Avon canal:
· £92m p.a GVA increased economic activity
· 11.2 million visits p.a (up from 7.7million in 1995)
· 2700 FTE jobs along canal corridor
· 1230 FTA jobs form increased canalside activity e.g hospitality
· Doubled canalside development
Martin Hollis, Chair of the Wilts and Berks Canal Trust, explained that housing beside waterways attracts a 10-20% premium. On health and wellbeing, he referred to research indicating that waterways users have higher life satisfaction and are more active. He summarised by saying canal restorations:
· deliver significant Economic, Health/Wellbeing and Nature/Biodiversity benefit,
· have been shown to stimulate doubling of Development and Housebuilding
· alleviate Flooding and (as a side benefit) increase Agricultural Productivity & Yield
Terry Cavender, Executive Officer of the Buckingham Canal Society, gave background on the Buckingham Canal Society, explaining that although they are a charity, they need to think and act commercially to take advantage of opportunities, and ensure paperwork including insurance and Health and Safety is covered.
He cited advice for other restorations to capture everything, manage the ‘now’, consider all of the restoration phases including the before / meanwhile uses, during and after; and, have a vision that can evolve. Crucially they need to have sustainable funding plans for the future.
Given the assembled political audience, he further laid out ways that MPs can help support waterways restorations:
· Recognise canals as national infrastructure
· Support the funding of our waterways by encouraging DEFRA to review all of the waterways grants – they need to be index linked
· National Planning Policy Framework should protect restoration routes and include restoration groups as statutory consultees
· National policy to use canals for flood alleviation and water transfer/supply
Bill Esterson, MP, chair of the APPG thanked the speakers and mentioned how he has been pleased to see developers investing in waterways sites in his constituency.
Lord German as co-chair raised the issue of leveraging these issues to get funding – need to incentivise private development – and provide evidence that there’s a 10-20% uplift in property value thanks to the proximity of a waterway.
Charlie Norman, IWA’s Director of Campaigns and Public Affairs, said:
“Canal restoration projects deliver huge benefit and deserve active support from voters, Councils and Parliament. It is also incredibly how much volunteer expertise and time is devoted to restoration. This was a particularly well attend and enjoyable APPG session with thanks to all who contributed.”
