Green light for £1.2m canal restoration

Planning approval has been granted for a £1.2m restoration of the Dudley No 2 Canal in Selly Oak.

Lapal Canal Trust has ambitious plans to convert the Greenway, left by the developers of the Selly Oak Shopping Centre, into a working canal.

Birmingham City Council have now given the green light to the scheme, following improvements to the plans after a consultation.

The restored waterway will promote leisure activities and the wellbeing of the community, according to the trust.

Restoring this section of canal and the winding hole is estimated to cost £1.2m, and the developer will provide £500k leaving the Lapal Canal Trust with the task of raising £700k. £180k has been raised in the first 5 months and it is actively looking for more financial support.

Residential moorings are included in the plan, the income from which will be used by the Trust to help with ongoing maintenance costs on the canal.

Dr Andrew Hardie, chair of the Lapal Canal Trust, said: “We are grateful for the help received from Sainsbury’s, Landsec, and Birmingham City Council and look forward to the canal link being restored in partnership with the local community.

“The canal will enhance the areas it passes through, from Selly Oak through Weoley to the Birmingham boundary and beyond”

Dr Tony Whateley Company Secretary and Treasurer commented: “As a community we are all proud of our Birmingham canals and we would like to thank the following for their generous contribution to this project – Headley Trust, GJW Turner Trust, Henry James Sayer Charity, Worcester Birmingham & Droitwich Canal Society, Inland Waterways Association, Heritage Lottery Fund and members of the Lapal Canal Trust.; and more recently from – Jabbs Trust, Rowland Trust, Grimmitt Trust, Patrick Trust, Gowling WLG, Geoff Hall Trust, Collins /Sayer Trust, Birmingham Common Good Trust, Richardson Foundation, memory of Dr Ian Langford, and subscribers of canal magazines.”