We've completed ground investigations, engineering surveys and detailed design work and is now well advanced with the rebuild of the embankment. Importantly, the canal is expected to reopen ahead of Easter, allowing businesses and visitors to benefit from the start of the main boating and tourism season.
Making the site safe
Since the breach occurred, we've invested several million pounds in the response, making the site safe, carrying out extensive investigations and developing the engineering solution needed to rebuild the canal. This has included maintaining the flow of around 40 million litres of water every day around the breach site.
Maintaining this flow remains essential, not only for navigation but also because the Llangollen Canal plays a critical role in supplying fresh water to homes and businesses across Cheshire.
The next phase of construction, delivered in partnership with our infrastructure partner Kier, will see the collapsed embankment and canal channel rebuilt using modern engineering techniques not available when the canal was originally constructed more than 200 years ago. Reinforced layers within the new embankment will improve its long-term strength and resilience, helping to protect this historic waterway against increasingly extreme weather and the effects of climate change.
Return to navigation
Campbell Robb, our chief executive, said: "When the embankment failed just before Christmas last year it caused significant damage to one of the country's best-loved canals. Since then, our teams and partners have worked tirelessly to understand exactly what is required to rebuild it and return navigation.
"We can now look ahead to a reopening date with increased confidence. We have completed the detailed investigations, developed a comprehensive engineering solution and are progressing well towards reopening the canal in March 2027.
"Most importantly, businesses, boaters and local communities can have increased confidence of this popular canal being open from Easter 2027. While there remains a huge amount of work to do, this marks an important milestone in bringing the Llangollen Canal back stronger and more resilient for the future."
Progress remains dependent on the weather conditions
Work is progressing well on site, with the embankment rebuild expected to be completed before Christmas. A concrete base will then be laid ahead of the construction of a new canal channel. This next phase of work will take place after Christmas.
As with all major construction projects, progress remains dependent on the weather conditions. We will continue to provide updates on the works and the anticipated reopening date as the project progresses.
