The Cotswold Canals Connected restoration project is the largest, and most complex, National Heritage Lottery Funded (NLHF) project in the South-West.
So far, six miles of canal have been restored and another four miles are under restoration. Significant progress has been made by the engineering, environment and community programmes. The project has won several awards and the restored sections of canal have transformed the local areas into much loved blue-green corridors, enjoyed by local communities as well as attracting visitors to the district.
Stroud District Council joined Cotswold Canals Trust to invest £3million and back its ambition to restore the canals in the Stroud district.
With support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, other partners and volunteers, significant progress has been made: the six-mile section of canal was restored between Thrupp and Stonehouse (known as Phase 1A) in 2018 and the restoration of the final four mile length of canal to Saul (Phase 1B) is underway.
Challenges to the project include increasing construction and engineering costs, and the complexities involved in routing the canal under the M5 motorway. Additional funding is now required to complete the project through fundraising, grants and donations.
Find out more about the canal restoration project on this page, and via the links with our partners.
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