Our towpath upgrade works see £3 million of investment into West Yorkshire’s canals

We're undertaking £3 million of towpath improvements along two canals in the Huddersfield area.

Keeping canals alive and open

Still navigated by boats as they have been for hundreds of years, and today used by more than 10 million people a fortnight, our historic manmade canals and river navigations need constant care to keep them open and alive for local people and visitors to enjoy.

Working in partnership with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Kirklees Council, funding was secured to improve the towpath along the Huddersfield Broad Canal, from Aspley Basin in Huddersfield to Cooper Bridge, where the canal joins the Calder & Hebble Navigation. Meanwhile, resurfacing of the historic towpath between Marsden and Slaithwaite on the Huddersfield Narrow Canal is in the final stage of a five-year, three-phase project. As well as the towpath upgrades, a new ramp has been constructed at Scarwood Bridge to improve access to the towpath.

The routes are being resurfaced with a tar and stone chipping finish. This will provide a durable all-weather surface to enable more people to walk, wheel, scoot and cycle more often, as well as complementing the natural environments surrounding the canal towpaths. With research showing that time spent by water helps people feel happier and healthier, and with more people looking for a local escape on their doorstep, the towpath upgrades will make it easier and more appealing for people to get out and explore their local canal.

Other improvements include better access for people with mobility difficulties and for pushchair users; widening the towpath (where possible) to assist towpath use, while retaining heritage features, grass verges, and native plants and trees to support wildlife habitats; repairs to the canal walls; and new mooring bollards for boaters.

Vital to the Industrial Revolution

Mark Robinson, our enterprise manager, said: “We know these canal towpaths are well used by the local community and it’s fantastic to see these two towpath improvement schemes under construction. The canals in the Huddersfield area were vital to the Industrial Revolution. And, thanks to the hard work of the Trust and our volunteers, they are still navigated by boats today, as well as providing much-loved walking and cycling routes for the local community.”

The schemes are being delivered by us in partnership with Kirklees Council and West Yorkshire Combined Authority. They will enable more puddle-free journeys on foot and by bike, as well as improving accessibility for wheelchair and pushchair users, and boosting economic growth by providing access to employment and education opportunities.

The funding comes from West Yorkshire’s Active Travel Fund, which is grant funding provided by Active Travel England to support local transport authorities with producing cycling and walking facilities.

Working together

Mark added: “As a charity, it’s so important that we work with other organisations to keep our historic canals open and alive. We would like to thank our funding partners - Kirklees Council and West Yorkshire Combined Authority - once again for enabling us to undertake this work. This towpath upgrade project is a fantastic example of how we can work together to make canals more welcoming and attractive, part of ensuring they remain navigable for boats and here for local people and in support of wildlife.”

Councillor Peter Carlill, Deputy Chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Transport Committee, said: “We’re enhancing canal towpaths to help people live healthier, more active lifestyles. Better surfaces and easier access will improve safety and encourage more people to walk, wheel and cycle. This is a vital part of our vision for a better-connected West Yorkshire where active travel fits seamlessly with buses, trains and trams.”

Councillor Moses Crook, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Transport at Kirklees Council, said: "Our canals are not only part of Kirklees’ rich industrial heritage, they’re also vital green spaces that bring health, wellbeing and environmental benefits to our communities. We're proud to support this investment, which will make it easier and safer for everyone – from families with pushchairs to cyclists and wheelchair users – to enjoy these beautiful, historic routes all year round. It’s a great example of what we can achieve through partnership working to support active travel, accessibility and pride in place."

The works

Works on the Huddersfield Narrow Canal started this week and are expected to continue until October 2025. The towpath project on the Huddersfield Broad Canal starts in mid-June and is expected to finish in January 2026.

During the works, both the Huddersfield Broad and Huddersfield Narrow canals’ towpaths will remain open with restrictions, meaning that people will be escorted through the sites safely.

Last summer, boaters, local residents, businesses and other users were invited to share their feedback on the proposals, which informed the scheme’s designs.