Around half a kilometre of the extended canal is now full after recent rainfall helped complete the initial phase. Wichelstowe LLP, the partnership between Barratt Homes, David Wilson Homes, Redrow South West and Swindon Borough Council, is leading the work.
The restoration forms part of the wider regeneration of Wichelstowe, which aims to reintroduce a navigable canal corridor through the area. The original Wilts & Berks Canal opened in 1810 but was abandoned in 1914. Volunteers and supporters have worked for many years to bring sections back into use.
Councillor Marina Strinkovsky, Cabinet Member for Planning and Placemaking, visited the site with representatives from the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust. She said:
“The canal is a defining feature of the development and seeing this new section full of water really brings the vision to life.
The next phases will create even stronger connections across the community and will encourage walking and cycling, while providing new areas for people to unwind and enjoy themselves.
It’s an exciting moment for Wichelstowe and for Swindon as a whole.”
Progress this year was helped by a dry summer that allowed engineers to build the traditional clay puddle lining needed to waterproof the canal bed. Recent autumn rainfall completed the filling of the first stretch, and landscaping around the water is now finished.
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The new canal corridor is intended to support wildlife and provide a central feature for future walking routes. The towpath beside this section will stay closed until next year, with a temporary route expected to open once it is safe for the public.
Work has now moved to the west of Mill Lane, where crews have started constructing a new road bridge to enable a further 0.5 kilometre extension. The structure will include a tunnel beneath the road, similar to the existing one near Waitrose at Foxham Way.
Chloe Ford, Swindon Branch Chair of the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust, described the milestone as the result of “impressive craftsmanship” and said the aim is to run longer Dragonfly boat trips once new sections are linked and navigable. She said the Trust’s ability to expand its community boat programme will depend on progress in future phases.
Wichelstowe Project Director Dan Pavely said:
“Reaching this stage is a major achievement for the whole project team.
We’re now excited to move on to the western extension and the construction of the new road bridge, which marks the next major step towards creating a vibrant waterside destination at Wichelstowe.”
Longer-term plans will see the canal continue south, turn east and reconnect beneath Mill Lane to create a continuous route. The Wilts & Berks Canal Trust will take on long-term management once the full waterway is completed.
Wichelstowe is one of the region’s largest regeneration schemes. It is expected to deliver around three thousand homes over the next two decades, alongside schools, play areas, open spaces, allotments, sports facilities and nature trails. Supporters of the canal project say it will become a defining feature of the development, although its full recreational and ecological impact will only be known when navigation is extended.
