London’s canal towpaths to be dug up by National Grid

On 20 July 2020, National Grid will start a two-year phased programme of essential works to remove old cables laid beneath the towpath of the Paddington Arm of the Grand Union Canal and the Regent’s Canal.

As part of the works, the Canal & River Trust has agreed with National Grid that the towpath surface will be upgraded and, where possible, widened to a minimum width of two metres.

The oil filled cables, which have reached the end of their useful life, are no longer needed to supply London and have been replaced by the now operational London Power Tunnels (LPT), a new network of electricity cable tunnels in the capital. The project was commissioned in 2018 and opened by HRH the Prince of Wales. Removal of the cables will help to safeguard the local environment and waterways from any potential damage in the future.

“We want to keep any disruption resulting from these works to an absolute minimum and we are working hard to ensure that the voices of our local communities are heard,” says Ros Daniels, director for London & South East at the Canal & River Trust. “These works are vital for the ongoing health of the waterways and the improvements to the towpath will benefit all those who use London’s canals for walking, cycling, boating, or simply having a moment of peace.”

The first phase in the removal of the cables from the towpath is due to begin on 20 July 2020 on the Grand Union Canal Paddington Arm at Old Oak Lane, gradually working two kilometres east towards Scrubs Lane. Due to limited access along the towpath and the complexities of the work, the Trust will close this section of canal towpath until early November.

The works will affect boaters moored along the Oak Lane to Scrubs Lane section of towpath. There will be a mooring suspension in place.

This is the first phase of a project that has a total expected length of two years and will ultimately see the removal of the cables along approximately seven kilometres of towpath between Old Oak Lane and Lisson Grove. The works along the canal towpaths are part of a wider two-year programme by National Grid to decommission cables between Tottenham and Wimbledon.