Rotherham marina proposals progress
The council has approved a £10,000 contribution towards a masterplan to restore the final 14km section of the Chesterfield Canal between Staveley and Kiveton Park, marking another step forward in long-term plans to reconnect the historic waterway.
The funding will support a feasibility study and masterplan for the remaining stretch of canal, with the wider restoration expected to be delivered over several years, subject to future funding and approvals.
The proposals form part of the wider Chesterfield Canal Partnership’s ambition to restore the full route between Chesterfield and Kiveton for navigation. The partnership brings together local authorities, the Canal & River Trust, the Chesterfield Canal Trust, and the Inland Waterways Association.
Within Rotherham, the plans include the creation of a new marina at Kiveton Waters, currently used as fishing ponds, alongside new walking and cycling routes linking local communities to the Trans Pennine Trail.
Additional proposals include quiet moorings within Rother Valley Country Park and flood defence improvements through the integration of a new flood-control lock into the existing system.
The restoration programme would also see the revival of the historic Norwood Flight of 13 locks, regarded as one of the UK’s most significant surviving examples of early canal engineering.
Work is also proposed to reinstate the canal around the collapsed Norwood Tunnel, with engineers assessing options including a new tunnel beneath the M1 or a series of locks using an existing underpass.
Longer-term aspirations include a visitor centre, café, and landmark boat lift as an alternative to part of the lock flight, although these elements would require additional funding and separate approvals.
Since restoration work began in 1989, more than 19km of the Chesterfield Canal have been brought back into use, alongside the restoration of 37 locks and 11 bridges. The trust is also working towards having sections at Staveley, Killamarsh and Renishaw back in water in time for the canal’s 250th anniversary in 2027.
