Interreg IVB North Sea Region Programme (2007-2013) -

Summary

To take forward opportunities afforded by recreational inland waterways for the development and realisation of business opportunities and creating attractive places near where people live and work.

The project will work by implementing a number of themed initiatives on business and product development, waterway regeneration and the sustainable management of waterway resource.

Duration

01/01/2009 - 30/06/2012

Priority

4 - Promoting Sustainable and Competitive Communities

Area of Intervention

4.2 Promoting sustainable growth solutions for expanding areas

ERDF Grant

1,663,342.00 €

ERDF Equivalent

133.219,00 €

Total Eligible Budget

3,770,748.00 €

Lead Beneficiary

British Waterways, UK
Glenn Millar
glenn.millar@britishwaterways.co.uk
Tel: +44 1923 201356

Project Homepage

www.waterwaysforgrowth.eu

Beneficiaries per Country

United Kingdom

British Waterways

City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council

Norway

Telemark Fylkeskommune

Sweden

Lansstyrelsen Varmland

City of Karlstad

Forshaga Municipality

Grums Municipality

Hammarö Municipality

Kils Municipality

Germany

BIS Bremerhaven Touristik

The Netherlands

Gemeente Emmen

Gemeente Langedijk

Stichting Recreatietoer-vaart Nederland

Belgium

Toerisme Scheldeland

Province of West Flanders

Background and Aim

Aim
The aim of the project is to develop a transnational framework to coordinate the sustainable development of inland waterways at national, regional and local levels throughout the NSR.

The Framework will focus on 3 key areas of activity - (1) business & product development; (2) waterway regeneration; (3) sustainable management of the waterway resource, in terms of the natural environment, sustainable transport & built heritage. The development of the Framework will be supported by means of a series of practical measures and pilot actions to further the economic & sustainable development. Evaluation of the pilot actions will contribute to development of the Framework and lead to further practical actions for taking the sustainable development of inland waterways forward and suggest priorities for future funding and investment in the sector.

Background
There is growing interest in revitalising inland waterways as a catalyst for economic & social development and area-based regeneration. Waterways support economic growth in two ways - through businesses activity (including recreation & tourism and transport); and through providing attractive places close to where people live and work, linking towns & cities with their surrounding countryside.

There is a growing interest in regenerating waterside areas and expanding the transnational network of recreational waterways because of the regeneration benefits created. The earlier Interreg IIIB North Sea Region project

Expected Outcomes

A framework for the sustainable development of inland waterways;
New and expanded businesses based on waterways;
A common approach to regenerate historic waterways;
Extension of the network of recreational waterways;
New approaches to further develop the sustainable development of waterways.

April - September 2010

Work is progressing on the framework for the sustainable development of inland waterways drawing upon input from the pilot actions and thematic working groups. An analysis has been carried out to map the relationship between the multi-functional use of inland waterways and EU policy and funding. This work will be extended to national & regional levels in the next project period.

Specific pilot actions are under way in all partner areas related to business development, networking and clustering; the development of new water tourism offers and approaches; the creation and sustainable management of waterway focal/service points; the master planning of waterside regeneration and opening up of new waterway links; and the retention and development of freight transport on small dimension waterways.

Experiences and work developed through WfG is providing input to a project commissioned by the German Ministry of Transport (BMVBS), which focuses on concepts and models for the future organisation, staffing and financial management for improving water tourism in Germany.

October 2009 - March 2010

In the period from October 2009 to March 2010 pilot actions were commenced in relation to business development & entrepreneurship, waterside regeneration and the sustainable management & development of the waterway resource, following the agreement of these at the project meeting held in Emmen (NL). Actions so far started relate to:

Business networking & clustering, together with business support activity;
Development of new water tourism offers and products;
Marketing & promotion of water tourism opportunities;
Masterplanning of waterside regeneration and new waterway opportunities;
Sustainable management & development of waterway destinations;
Retention and development of freight opportunities on small dimension inland waterways.

The structure of the Framework for the Sustainable Development of Inland Waterways was agreed, which was developed in parallel to the revision of the Government policy for inland waterways in England & Wales (Waterways for Tomorrow).

The Waterways for Growth website www.waterwaysforgrowth.eu has now gone live. As well as providing an outline of the project and its aims and objectives, the website is also promoting forthcoming events and news items from partners.

April - September 2009

Waterways for Growth has successfully completed its start-off phase: The administrative arrangements for the project have been established and the first series of partnership meetings was organised. The branding for the project has been agreed and initial publicity material prepared. The project website has been developed over the period and is now about to go online.

The framework will set out our vision for the future sustainable management if Inland Waterways	Waterways can form the focus of regeneration projects
Waterways can contribute to developing a greener society	Waterways play a key part in developing Regional growth

Events

Waterways Conference - Innovation in the management & development of Inland Waterways

Dates: 24/09/2010 - 24/09/2010