Waterway 30 years in the making moves a step closer

The waterpark would provide leisure activities and a chance for nature "to recover" the Bedford and Milton Keynes Waterway Trust previously said

The building of a £300m waterway that has been planned for 30 years has moved a step closer.

AECOM, a global infrastructure company, has been appointed to investigate the feasibility of building the Bedford and Milton Keynes Waterway Park, which would connect the River Great Ouse in Bedford to the Grand Union Canal in Milton Keynes.

The company said the 26km (16-mile) waterway would be "the UK's largest new-build canal in a century".

Simon Clewlow, chair of the Bedford and Milton Keynes Waterway Trust (BMKW), which is behind the plans, said it would put "water where its wanted".

Simon Clewlow said the project was now becoming a "reality"

BMKW has appointed AECOM to work on the first 2km (1.2mile) section in the eastern part of the route near Bedford which will cross beneath the A421 via an underpass that has already been built.

Part of the A421, by Marston Moretaine, in Bedfordshire, closed for almost three weeks from 22 September after a month's worth of rain fell in under 48 hours.

The company will investigate existing information and analyse geological maps, existing utility information, land ownership boundaries and plans for future infrastructure and housing along the route.

The scheme would provide a new channel for water supply and drainage, improve biodiversity, water quality, climate resilience and provide new wildlife habitats and leisure activities, the trust said.

An artist's impression of what the waterway in Fields Road, Wootton, could look like

Mr Clewlow said: "I'm very excited that the time is coming shortly when the Bedford and Milton Keynes Waterway Park will be able to show that it can be a key element of managing water purposefully in the 21st century, so putting 'water where it's wanted'.

"Using the waterway to mitigate flood risk, provide flood resilience as well as move water from the wetter areas of the country to the drier east are its significant strategic benefits.

"At a more local level there will be environmental and wellbeing advantages as well as becoming an asset for recreation and tourism."

In 2009, an underbridge was built beneath the A421 in readiness for the waterway