Montgomery Canal Restoration Project

Almost £14million of the UK Government funding has been secured towards the Montgomery Canal Restoration Programme.

This phase of works - the Montgomery Canal Restoration Project - will make a substantial contribution towards the wider, phased, restoration of the Montgomery Canal that, when fully completed, will provide long term economic, cultural, wellbeing and recreational benefits for local communities.

The project, which is being delivered by the Canal and River Trust and Powys County Council, focuses on:

Dredging / bank works to the unnavigable 4.4mile section between Llanymynech and Arddleen - which will also see the provision of a sustainable cycle and walking route along the canal corridor
Rebuilding of Walls Bridge and Williams Bridge to enable future navigation.
The creation of off-line ponds close to the Welsh Stretch of the canal to protect the canal's natural standing as a Site of Special Scientific Interest and Special Area of Conservation - to meet ecological requirements for restoration

Critical repairs and improvements at Aberbechan Aqueduct. Most of this work was completed in Autumn 2024, some stone works will take place in spring 2025.
Improvements to the Y Lanfa building and two canal side cottages at Welshpool Wharf - enhancing its role as the town's community and cultural hub. Additional funding has been awarded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund (£164,000) for the works to Y Lanfa and the Welsh Government Transforming Towns initiative had provided £140,000 towards the works on the cottages.

Works to the cottages were completed in December 2024 and the library is temporarily operating from the cottages whilst the works to Y Lanfa and the wharf continue.

Main construction works began with the dredging of the Llanymynech to Carreghofa section of the canal. The full package of works will be completed by February 2026.

For more information on the Canal Restoration work elements visit the Canal and River Trust's website.

Rare species protection

As a wetland habitat, the canal is constantly changing.

As more competitive plant species establish and trap silt in the channel, the canal begins to change from open water habitat with surrounding fringe, to a filled-in dry channel in which trees would eventually begin to establish. The species for which the canal is designated depend on the open water habitat.