Derby Canal

The Derby & Sandiacre Canal Trust aims to restore the Derby Canal as near to its original line as possible. Successes to date include restoration of bridges, a road culvert, lock chamber restorations, a 300m stretch of canal at Spondon and preparatory work on much of the rest of the canal line. Outline planning permission for the whole canal length and water abstraction rights have been secured. 
The trust completed three canal cottages at Draycott to be rented out for restoration income and now has a thriving café alongside the Golden Mile canal path in Draycott. The Golden Mile restoration at Draycott was delayed by flooding, which damaged the works and delayed progress, but repairs and the remainder of Phase 1 have now been completed. Increased costs and flood management requirements have further delayed the completion of Phase 2. The trust is now in dialogue to use the canal restoration as flood protection and water transfer, which could see rapid progress if implemented along the east/west leg. Land is being acquired to assist this possibility.
The River Derwent electric trip-boat Outram opened for passengers in August 2022 and has been very successful. The trust is still working with Derby City Council to establish a purpose-built pontoon to allow full wheelchair access on the trip, but authority funding issues are making this more difficult. A very positive feasibility study to create the Derby Arm boat-lift, a river lock and city-centre basin has been received from Atkins. It is still evident that the city wishes to enhance its riverside, albeit within the constraints of funding and flood management. Record river levels in the last 12 months have made progress more difficult. Plans to divert sewers in Sandiacre Bottom Lock, close to the Erewash Canal junction, have progressed well through a supportive approach by Severn Trent and the local authority. The trust is now looking at contractor-led works to be undertaken in 2024. Discussions also continue to restore a section at Chellaston in conjunction with the five-year plan to build a major housing estate adjacent to the canal line.

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Restoration Walk

Discovering Derby's Lost Canal, Waterways World March 2020