NTCities - Walter Menzies

Manchester – The northern capital of Waterways?

Birmingham’s Waterways – A Story of Success – case study

• A clear vision for the canals developed through with the local authorities

• Central areas developed around the waterways as a focus for living, working, eating and drinking.

• No go areas transformed into safe commuter routes

• Estimated investment of £1billion since the early 1980’s

• Regeneration continues to spread from the centre outwards

Role of Waterways in the 21st Century•A multi-designated high value historic environment

•Supports 13.7 million tourism, recreation and functional visits (2009).

•Generates £39 million gross direct expenditure in the local economy, which rises to over £50 million if indirect spend included.

•Supports some 1,300 leisure and tourism related jobs in Greater Manchester.

•Contribute £17.2m to Greater Manchester’s ecosytem services - recreation, transport, land drainage, environmental, landscape and heritage resource.

Regeneration value and supporting change•There is a strong correlation between underperforming waterways and some of our most deprived districts.

•Waterway environments are a proven driver for regeneration of communities

•Waterways can deliver job creation opportunities

•Waterways as a driver for welfare programmes - Future Jobs Fund, Community Payback.

Waterways as part of a sustainable city•An integral part of Greater Manchester’s Green Infrastructure.

•Waterways can also support the transition to a low carbon economy.

•A commuter and recreational opportunity on your doorstep

•Potential for inland waterways to contribute through biomass capacity, waste transfer, goods distribution and district cooling.

The Future

•Promote the waterways of Greater Manchester as an informal recreational network.

•An opportunity to make Manchester's waterways great again.

• Engage partners with a view to integrating the canals and rivers within the strategic plans to ensure the waterways deliver their potential.

• Putting the future of Canals and Rivers on a sustainable platform for the future.

• Waterway Partnerships to shape the potential where you live.