Canal & River Trust asks boaters to help shape future of UK waterways licensing

The Canal & River Trust has launched a new engagement programme with boaters as it prepares for a major public consultation on the future of boating and licensing across the UK’s inland waterways.

The pre-consultation process will run over the coming months, allowing boaters to help shape the issues and questions that will form part of the formal consultation, expected to open in December 2026.

The consultation follows the independent Commission on Boat Licensing report, published at the end of last year, which found that the current licensing system is not working effectively. The upcoming consultation will examine a range of issues impacting the future of boating, including boat safety, support for boaters, navigation requirements, fair use of waterways and the long-term management of the canal network.

Ahead of the formal 14-week consultation, the Trust says it will work directly with boaters to ensure the process reflects the realities of life on the waters.

Campbell Robb, chief executive at Canal & River Trust, says: “Boaters are integral to our waterways. We want to see canals thriving with boats for generations to come, and that can only happen if we work alongside those on the water about what comes next.

“The Commission report was an important moment. It highlighted areas where the existing licensing arrangements aren’t working well for either boaters or the Trust and areas that could be better, such as communications.”

Robb added that while the Trust has already begun improving areas including maintenance, welfare support and communications, many of the recommendations require further discussion with boaters before decisions are made.

“By combining our experience of managing the network with the lived experience of the people who use it every day, we can build practical solutions that support boating long into the future,” he adds.

The engagement programme is set to begin in August and involve national boating organisations, boater representatives, local boating groups and a newly created Citizens’ Boater Panel. The panel will bring together people from a range of boating backgrounds and lifestyles, helping the Trust understand perspectives that may not always be represented.

Come September, the panel will begin discussions, helping explore the practical implications of the Commission on Boat Licensing recommendations, while further feedback will be used in October and November to shape the themes and structure of the formal consultation.

The public consultation will then open in December 2026, with responses gathered through online submissions and engagement sessions, before findings are independently analysed and published in spring 2027, alongside details of how feedback will inform future decisions.

The Canal & River Trust has said it will continue to provide updates throughout the engagement process and share opportunities for boaters to get involved.