Restored canals create economic benefits and new residential opportunities along the length of the restored sections, according to a report released last week.

In the case of just two restored canals some 2000 residential units have been built alongside the canals since 1990.

Research carried out on behalf of British Waterways has showed that around 3.8m visits are made to the re-opened Rochdale canal each year, resulting in spending of around £18m – with £4m of this thought to be ‘extra’ money for the area.

The ECOTEC Research and Consulting report said that since 1990 up to £260m had been invested in commercial developments alongside the Rochdale Canal and a large proportion of these had been residential. In addition, around £100m had been invested in commercial developments alongside the Huddersfield Narrow Canal and a large proportion of these had also been residential.

The Rochdale canal was re-opened to through navigation in 2002 and the Huddersfield Narrow Canal in 2001.

More than 3,000 jobs had been created in new Rochdale canal-side developments since 1990, with the bulk of them in Manchester. The canal itself supports around 150 tourism jobs with between ten and 15 of these created since 2001.

Between the Rochdale Canal and the Huddersfield Narrow Canal:

• £1.6m visitor spend each year was generated from boating and £4.9m from towpath visits.
• Around 2050 residential units have been built alongside the canal, with around two thirds of the investment in Manchester.
• 3,800 jobs have been created in new canal-side developments alongside both canals since 1990.