Bridgewater Canal Breach Repair Update – December 2025

Stabilisation nearing completion, Principal Consultant appointed, design works underway. 

The Bridgewater Canal Company has confirmed that the repair programme following the New Year’s Day breach at Little Bollington has now moved into its next phase, with stabilisation works nearing completion and the formal design process for reinstating the embankment now underway.

As part of this progression, SLR Consulting (formerly Wardell Armstrong) has been appointed as principal consultant to lead on the design and project management of the reinstatement, following a competitive tender process.

Since January, extensive work has been undertaken to protect and secure the canal. Temporary dams, stoplogs and embankment support have stabilised the site, and the unnavigable stretch has been reduced to under half a mile.

In September, the adjoining landowner, the National Trust released its Geo-environmental Site Investigation, undertaken with guidance from Cheshire East Council and the Environment Agency. The report confirmed: “Testing showed that the flood-affected soils at the site do not pose a risk to human health from chemical or microbiological sources.”

This enabled full access for specialist surveys, which have now been completed. The results are informing the design process which is underway. The document can be found here.

Further targeted ecological and environmental surveys will take place in the coming weeks. Once finalised, these will allow the contractor procurement process to begin. Subject to the outcomes of ecological surveys and engineering design, we envisage construction works to begin in summer 2026 with a completion by the end of 2026. 

SLR Consulting said: “We’re pleased to support the Bridgewater Canal Company as this project moves into the design and planning phase. With our experience in civil engineering and canal infrastructure, we look forward to helping restore this historic stretch of the Bridgewater Canal.”

Peter Parkinson, Managing Director of the Bridgewater Canal Company, said: “We recognise how important the canal is to boaters, local residents and the wider Cheshire Ring. We’re pleased to have appointed SLR Consulting as principal consultant; their extensive experience in civil infrastructure and canal projects will be invaluable as we move into the next phase of these complex repairs. We remain committed to restoring navigation and will continue to keep everyone updated as plans develop.”

Illustrations of the breach repair