Canal Consultancy Projects & Waterway Tourism Consultants

We have an established track record of helping canal trusts and local authorities unlock the visitor-economy potential of the UK’s canal and waterway network — from historic navigations like the Basingstoke Canal to rural canal corridors, wildlife-rich waterways and boating hubs across England and Wales.

Canals attract significant footfall, but the trusts and councils that manage them face growing financial pressure. Conserving and restoring the historic fabric of locks, towpaths and canal-side buildings is a continuous cost, and even minor repairs can escalate quickly. At the same time, budgets and core funding for canals and other countryside recreation services are being squeezed. This has driven a sharp focus on generating commercial and trading income — but building a sustainable income stream takes investment, new capabilities and time. A significant part of our canal consultancy work is helping clients identify, test and deliver realistic income-generating opportunities that fit their site and their capacity.

We combine market and visitor research, site appraisal and in-depth stakeholder consultation with commercial realism — shaped by our sister company’s hands-on experience operating visitor attractions, hospitality and recreation businesses. That means the vision and action plans we produce are grounded in what’s actually deliverable, not just aspirational.

Basingstoke Canal: developing a vision and action plan

We worked for Hampshire County Council and Surrey County Council on the Basingstoke Canal, a historic waterway constructed between 1788 and 1794 that runs for 32 miles through Hampshire and Surrey, joining the Wey Navigation and, beyond that, the River Thames. The canal has a continuous towpath and 29 locks.

Through a market review, site appraisals and in-depth consultation, we developed a future Vision and Action Delivery Plan for the canal. Our research engaged a wide range of users — including hard-to-reach groups such as teenagers — as well as local businesses and landowners along the route. The resulting action plans covered product development, volunteering, marketing and governance, and considered opportunities for the visitor centre and the adjacent camping and touring field, alongside a costed implementation timetable.

Clients we’ve worked with

As a team, we have also delivered canal and waterway consultancy projects including:

• Canal & River Trust: Carried out an options appraisal for a canalside site owned by the Canal & River Trust. A key part of the assessment is to identify and evaluate options that will keep the site operational for the Trust while also supporting new uses.
• Broads Authority: A feasibility study for a flagship visitor centre and boating hub for the Broads Authority, supporting tourism and boating development
• Waterways Ireland:  As part of the Ulster Canal restoration project in Clones, we carried out a feasibility study to assess the opportunity to introduce water-sports and associated dry-side facilities in Clones
• Shropshire Wildlife Trust: A feasibility study for a visitor gateway centre to the Marches Mosses for the Shropshire Wildlife Trust, adjacent to the Llangollen Canal
• Homes and Communities Agency: An options review to enhance the offer at Pooley Country Park, which incorporates the Coventry Canal
• Buckinghamshire County Council: Advice for Buckinghamshire County Council on income-generating opportunities at Denham Country Park, which is bounded by the Grand Union Canal and River Misbourne
• Blaby District Council: Feasibility study to test the viability of developing a canal boat passenger service and water taxi on the Grand Union Canal (Leicester Line)
• The business plan for the Heart of the National Forest Visitor Centre, adjacent to a canal basin (managed by our sister company and later extended as CONKERS)
• Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council: Prepared a Heritage Destination Development Framework for the Vale of Neath to support the Levelling Up Fund application.   This set out options to support the sustainable development of built and natural heritage assets, including the Neath Canal within the Vale of Neath, helping to increase overnight stays and spend within the local economy and helped to secure £19m from the Levelling Up Fund
• North Soar Trails Syndicate: A long-term vision for North Soar, a rural corridor south of Nottingham combining walking, cycling, horse riding and water-based recreation which incorporates the Grand Union Canal and Trent Navigation, including a proposed marina
• Wigan Borough Council: Feasibility study to introduce a visitor centre within Wigan Flashes, an important environmental, recreational and educational wetland including the Leeds and Liverpool Canal
• Kent County Council: Work with Kent County Council exploring uses for a countryside recreation site, including access to the River Stour
• An options review for a boatyard on the River Thames near Oxford
• Farming Wildlife Advisory Group: Work for FWAG, identifying opportunities to enhance recreation and education along the River Lambourne as part of an Audience Development Plan
• Tourism Partnership Mid Wales: Stakeholder engagement, community consultation and survey research to inform the tourism element of the Central Wales spatial plan which includes part of the Montgomery Canal
• Mid-Suffolk District Council: A development strategy for the Waveney Valley, incorporating the River Waveney, including environmental enhancement schemes and outline planning/grant-application proposals
• Sedgemoor District Council: We were commissioned to carry out a tourism and leisure demand study to identify a mix of future uses within the historic Bridgwater Docks which feeds into the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal

Find out about some of the canal and river consultancy projects we have worked on. 

What our clients say

“Surrey and Hampshire County Councils jointly commissioned Planning Solutions Consulting Limited to develop a Vision for the future of the Basingstoke Canal. The Canal is a 30mile navigable waterway owned and managed by the two County Councils. The proposed approach from Planning Solutions in response to the brief stood out in terms of value but also, importantly, in terms of fully understanding the context for the work and what we needed to achieve. In commissioning this work, we knew at the outset, that building a vision which all the stakeholders and interest groups could support would be a considerable challenge. In order for this to be seen as a credible piece of work it was essential for the consultants to have the confidence of the stakeholders from the outset.

The initial research of the subject matter, both locally and in a national context and the open approach taken by Planning Solutions throughout the exercise ensured that this credibility was established. As the client, it was pleasing and reassuring that Planning Solutions regularly provided progress reports, checked the approach being taken and tested their initial findings with us.

Planning Solution’s experience of managing these projects clearly came through as they were able to suggest the most effective methodology but were also responsive to our particular needs as clients. The research undertaken regarding catchment area demographics, social and economic data and the examples of good practice nationally were all clearly and helpfully presented and relevant to the task. Planning Solutions did respond well to feedback from the clients throughout the project but particularly to points made at the draft and final draft stages. It is testament to the quality of the work and the final outcome that the Vision was fully and formally endorsed by the Basingstoke Canal’s Joint Management Committee.” Andy Smith Head of Countryside, Hampshire County Council.

Talk to us about your project

Canals and waterways face a distinctive set of challenges: ageing infrastructure that needs constant care, shrinking core funding, and growing pressure to generate income without losing sight of what makes these places special. We’ve worked alongside councils, trusts and landowners on exactly these issues, from developing a full vision and delivery plan for the Basingstoke Canal to feasibility studies, business plans and stakeholder consultations on waterways projects across the UK and Ireland.

Whether you’re exploring how to increase visitor numbers, identify new trading opportunities, plan a visitor centre, or simply need a clear-eyed assessment of what’s achievable, we’d be glad to talk it through.

Please get in touch with Richard Linington on 07866 742628 or email richard@pslplan.co.uk