Welcome to the Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway Park

Can the Waterway Park help combat future drought?

The Bedford and Milton Keynes Waterway Trust has been an advocate for a new waterway park linking Bedford and Milton Keynes since 1996. In recent years we have increasing argued that it should be given serious consideration as a piece of green/blue infrastructure that can achieve many positive outcomes:

      ●   an economic boost for the region through the establishment of a new navigation and recreation location

     ●    increased biodiversity through the creation of new wetlands and parkland

     ●    excellent cycle and walking routes through Marston Vale

     ●    improved water management opportunities

It is this last benefit which needs to come to the forefront right now. The country is facing serious drought and all the predictions are that we are facing more extended hot and arid periods. Our countryside, our businesses and we all need water. A new link between the River Great Ouse in Bedford and the Grand Union Canal and rivers in Milton Keynes could be a crucial resource. The capacity of the link to help remove water during flood and redistribute during drought is at last being looked at more seriously.

 

Outline Business Case backs the Waterway Park as a Highly-Valued Investment for Oxford–Cambridge Growth Corridor

New Business Case Backs £475M Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway as High-Value Investment for Oxford–Cambridge Growth Corridor

A newly released Outline Business Case for the Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway confirms that the proposed 26km canal would offer outstanding value for money, delivering £2.40 in benefits for every £1 invested.

The business case sets out a compelling economic, environmental, and social case for the new waterway. Designed to link the Grand Union Canal at Milton Keynes to the River Great Ouse at Bedford, the waterway would form a central feature of the Oxford–Cambridge Growth Corridor — one of the UK’s most dynamic development areas.

The outline business case can be accessed via following link –  New BMK Waterway Business Case

What’s happening in the BMK Waterway Park

We are always busy promoting the Waterway Park, raising funds and awareness through our community boats and working on projects along the route. View all news here

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Your donations are making the waterway park a reality

Extending the navigation on the Gt Ouse, marking & securing the route as well as technical and economic studies, these are just some of the projects we are working on.

Make a Donation

Would you like to volunteer with Trust?

All of our work from running the community boats to planning and promoting the route is carried out by volunteers. We are always looking for enthusiastic people to get involved.

Find out more