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Docking shortly in Liverpool

20th Sep 2005

A new type of boat will soon become common place on Liverpool’s world famous waterfront, thanks to a new waterway linking the city’s historic docks to the 2,000 mile UK canal system.

For the first time in over a century canal boats will bring major economic benefits to Liverpool, echoing a time past when the city’s docks were a transhipment hub for inland waterways freight.

The announcement of a £7.5 million award from the Merseyside Objective One programme means that funding for the new £17 million Liverpool Canal Link is now in place. Work on the new waterway will start early next year and is due for completion at the end of 2007 which is the maritime city’s 800th anniversary. Liverpool will also be named Capital of Culture in 2008.

There are 27,000 boats on British Waterways’ inland waterways and the Liverpool Canal Link is expected to entice more than 4,500 boat visits to Liverpool’s waterfront each year, adding colour and vibrancy to the currently underused waterspace. Boats will once again navigate through the current canal terminus at Stanley Dock and into the heart of the city’s new focal point at Pier Head. Economically, it is estimated that the Link and boats will attract 200,000 extra visitors a year spending an additional £1.9 million. It will also generate nearly 200 jobs for Merseyside.

Once complete the new waterway will connect Liverpool’s docks to the 127 mile Leeds & Liverpool Canal. Already the longest single canal in Britain, the Link will increase the length of the canal by a further 1.4 miles.

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott comments: "Over the last decade we have seen a renaissance for our waterways, with increased investment and regeneration work, led by British Waterways, bringing waterway life and a great leisure facility back to the people.

"The Leeds & Liverpool Canal was once the backbone of the northern economy. It is fitting that 100 years on the canal link is being restored as our northern cities rebuild their links and work together as part of our Northern Way initiative."

Robin Evans, British Waterways’ chief executive said: "British Waterways is thrilled that funding for the Liverpool Canal Link has been secured. Historically canals have been at the forefront of economic development. Today people like to live, work and socialise beside water and the benefits of major canal projects have been demonstrated time and time again. Boats will once again be able to cruise over the Pennines from Leeds to Liverpool and into the city’s world famous South Docks."

The £7.5m funding from European Objective One Funding is in addition to previously pledged money from North West Development Agency (£7.5 million), English Partnerships (£1.7 million) and British Waterways (£210k).

The construction of the Liverpool Canal Link is a further boost for the renaissance of Britain’s inland waterways. In June 2005 British Waterways announced the go-ahead of its £11.5 million plans to restore the Droitwich Barge and Junction Canals in Worcestershire, whilst London’s recent successful bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games provides a great opportunity to regenerate the Bow Back Rivers in East London. This builds on an additional 220 miles of new or restored waterway added to the 2,000 mile network managed by British Waterways over the past five years.

Last updated: 22/10/2008