The consultation, which will be co-created with boaters over the coming months, forms part of our response to the independent Commission on Boat Licensing, which reported at the end of 2025 and highlighted that the existing licensing system doesn’t work well for boaters or us. It also raised concerns about communication and relations between us and boaters.
The consultation will consider a wide range of topics, including boat safety, support for boaters, greater certainty around navigation requirements, fair sharing of the space, and managing the canal network responsibly.
Ahead of the 14-week formal consultation, we will work with boaters to ensure that the consultation properly reflects the real experiences, priorities and challenges faced by those on the water.
An important moment
Campbell Robb, our chief executive, said: “Boaters are integral to our waterways. We want to see canals thriving with boats for generations to come, and that can only happen if we work alongside those on the water about what comes next.
“The Commission report was an important moment. It highlighted areas where the existing licensing arrangements aren’t working well for either boaters or the Trust and areas that could be better, such as communications. While we’ve started investing more in day-to-day maintenance, and we’re improving welfare support and reviewing communications, many of the recommendations are complex and require full engagement with boaters before any decisions can be made. Ahead of the seminal consultation coming later in the year, we’re involving people early, ensuring boaters’ voices shape the consultation.
“We know there will be different views and perspectives, and we are committed to working through them together to better understand the realities of life on the waterways and the potential impacts of different approaches. By combining our experience of managing the network with the lived experience of the people who use it every day, we can build practical solutions that support boating long into the future.”
A diverse range of voices
This pre-engagement process will involve national boating organisations, boater representatives, local boating groups and the creation of a new Citizens’ Boater Panel, bringing together a diverse range of boating voices from across the network. The panel will include people with different boating lifestyles, helping us understand perspectives that may not always be heard and ensuring real-world boating experiences help shape the consultation from the outset.
We will publish regular updates on the engagement process, opportunities to get involved and information about how feedback is being used to help shape the consultation.
What to expect over the coming months:
August: Listening
Working directly with boating communities and representative organisations to better understand their experiences and priorities.
- Recruitment for the Citizens’ Boater Panel.
- Workshops with National Boating Organisations, boater representatives and the Navigation Advisory Group.
- Engagement with local boating groups and communities.
- Attendance at boating and waterways events across the network.
September: Working together
Focusing on deeper discussions with boaters.
- Citizens’ Boater Panel recruitment closes, panel members are confirmed and begin participating in workshops and discussions.
- Continued engagement with boating organisations, representatives and stakeholder groups.
- Exploration with boaters about the practical implications of recommendations from the Licensing Commission report.
October–November: Shaping the consultation
Using boaters’ input to help finalise the consultation approach.
- Final stakeholder workshops and co-design sessions.
- Testing consultation themes, language and questions to ensure they are clear and accessible.
- Sharing updates on how feedback has influenced the consultation design.
- Publication of information about consultation dates, timescales and opportunities to participate.
December 2026–February 2027: Public consultation
The formal consultation opens, providing opportunities for all boaters and stakeholders to have their say through online responses, events and engagement sessions.
Spring 2027: Reporting back
- Independent analysis of consultation responses.
- Publication of findings.
- Explanation of how feedback has informed next steps and future decision-making.
For further information on the consultation, visit: canalrivertrust.org.uk/boaterconsultation
