BLUE INFRASTRUCTURE - BEDFORD AND MILTON KEYNES WATERWAY PARK

The proposed waterway will link the River Great Ouse at Kempston to the Grand Union Canal at Milton Keynes, thus meeting a 200 year old ambition to link the National Canal Network to the Fenland Waterways. It will provide an attractive recreation setting along the Growth Area ‘Green Corridor’ as well as a navigable broad beam canal boat circuit, and potentially, a national landmark facility as the waterway passes over Brogborough Hill, such as the Falkirk Wheel.

The Western Section, named the MK Waterway Park, running from the Grand Union Canal to a terminus near M1 J13, has received outline planning permission from Milton Keynes Council and from Milton Keynes Partnership. Long term maintenance will be provided by the Milton Keynes Parks Trust, supported by British Waterways on navigational and engineering issues.

The Eastern Section, including the Marston and Bedford Waterway Parks, continues the waterway to the River Great Ouse at Kempston. Planning permission was granted in October under the Minerals and Waste regulations for the Stewartby to Wootton Section South of Fields Road. An example of taking advantage of opportunities is Bedford Borough Council including the waterway in the Masterplanning of the Marston Vale Innovation Park, just south of Fields Road, reported in the Jobs Section. Discussions with the Marston Vale Trust are underway to provide the long term maintenance arrangements on the same basis as the MK Parks Trust on the Western Section.

The Programme of Development process allocated £250,000 for the additional costs to provide a ‘wayleave’ under the new A421. The works, which were designed to meet both HA and British Waterways standards, extend the ‘wayleave’ under the new A421 provided for the Sustrans NCN Route 51 to a 9m wide by 5m high structure which will accommodate both a 5m wide, 1.5m deep Waterway, additional headroom and the cycleway/footway, plus safety enhancements such as lighting.

The Bedford and Milton Keynes Waterway Trust has generated a 26 section ‘A-Z’ breakdown of the works required to deliver the canal – the wayleave, item ‘N’, is designated ‘Structure One’. Progress will be made as opportunities arise.

To visit the Bedford and Milton Keynes Wateray Park website please click here.