Stabilisation nears completion as Bridgewater Canal embankment design progresses

The recovery programme for the Bridgewater Canal embankment breach at Little Bollington has moved into a critical new stage, with stabilisation works nearing completion and formal engineering design now underway. The breach, which occurred on New Year’s Day after prolonged rainfall, caused a full section of the embankment to fail and remains the most significant incident recorded on the canal in more than 50 years.

Temporary dams, stoplogs and interim slope-support measures have secured the affected reach, reducing the unnavigable section to less than half a mile. These works provided the safe access required for intrusive surveys. A key development came in September when the National Trust released the geo-environmental investigation, confirming that the flood-affected soils do not present chemical or microbiological risks. This finding allowed specialist geotechnical, ecological and environmental surveys to proceed without restriction.

A principal consultant has been appointed to lead the design and project management of the embankment reinstatement. The scope includes stability analyses, canal-side earthworks design, and the integration of hydrological, environmental and regulatory requirements. Survey outputs are now informing both the engineering solution and the procurement framework. Subject to design outcomes and ecological approvals, reconstruction is expected to begin in summer 2026.

The reinstated embankment will restore navigation on the Cheshire Ring and provide enhanced long-term resilience against rainfall-driven slope failures.

Drone footage of the failed embankment in the following video.