Design and Build Support

With decades of combined experience, we’ve worked on almost every kind of canal and river project. We’ve built canal and river infrastructure, from new lock gates to access stairways, and implemented bank repairs and towpath resurfacing. You name – we’ve done it.

Whether you need a full design and build to support on a specific stage, we tailor our services to your project.

ECI allows us to be involved from the very start — helping you with site investigations, topographical surveys, and feasibility studies for inland waterway engineering projects. It’s our preferred option. When we’re involved from the beginning, we can bring our experience and insights to help avoid potential pitfalls further down the line. That covers everything from ecological problems to fundamental design issues.

We believe that early input saves time and reduces costs for our clients.

Yes. We regularly liaise with the Canal & River Trust (CRT) and the Environment Agency (EA) to ensure our designs meet regulatory requirements and are approved efficiently. We’re highly familiar with their rules and regulations – allowing us to tailor projects, plans, and more directly to them.

We can also advise on permits, licences, and compliance. We can guide you through the application process, removing much of the administrative headache.

Yes. We can develop detailed structural calculations for canal works, embankments, piling, and other waterway features. This crucial infrastructure is vital to the success and safety of a waterway, so the right numbers are essential.

We can carry out these calculations either in-house or in collaboration with trusted engineering partners. What matters most is that your concerns are relieved and the infrastructure is safe and secure.

Not at all. We support small and large projects alike — whether it’s a single mooring, a short towpath section, or a full waterway redevelopment. Nor do we exclusively work on public projects. We’ve helped private marinas build up their infrastructure alongside long-term projects with local councils. We’re happy to offer our services whenever they’re needed.

That depends on the project – obviously the larger and more complex the project is, the longer it takes to complete the design and building.

A small waterway repair or platform build might be completed in just a few weeks, including surveys and designs. On the other hand, a large-scale project—especially one requiring approvals from the Canal & River Trust or Environment Agency—can take several months, including time for design, consultation, and permitting. We’ll always provide a clear timeline at the start and adapt quickly if anything changes. Early contractor involvement helps speed things up.