Scottish Canals Marks 25 Years of the Millennium Link with £3.1bn Regeneration Milestone

Twenty-five years on from the Millennium Link, Scotland's canals have driven £3.1 billion of investment and regeneration, according to a new report.

The EKOS report, a comprehensive study of economic activity arising in the canal corridor, shows that investment in residential and commercial property development along Scotland's canal corridors has reached £3.1 billion since 2003, supporting around 8,000 full-time equivalent jobs and creating a further 19,000 one-off construction jobs.

The findings come as Scottish Canals celebrates the 25th anniversary of the Millennium Link, the ambitious restoration project that transformed the derelict Forth & Clyde and Union canals into thriving national assets.

Beyond regeneration and investment, Scotland's canals continue to deliver significant social, environmental and tourism benefits. 

Scotland’s Canals, including; The Forth & Clyde, Caledonian, Monkland, Crinan and Union Canals now attract more than 20 million visits each year, including over half a million annual visits to The Falkirk Wheel.

The contemporary canals also provide vital active travel routes connecting communities across Scotland. Research by Glasgow Caledonian University found that living close to Glasgow's canals is associated with improved wellbeing and lower incidence rates of some chronic health conditions.

Twenty-five years ago, Scotland embarked on a bold vision to reconnect the country's historic waterways. The £83.5 million Millennium Link project, one of the largest canal restoration projects ever undertaken in Britain, restored the Forth & Clyde and Union canals and created The Falkirk Wheel, now recognised around the world as an icon of Scottish engineering and design.

Today, the legacy of that investment continues to grow.

Innovations such as the Glasgow Smart Canal, the first project of its kind in Europe, demonstrate how Scotland's waterways are continuing to support sustainable urban development. The scheme has unlocked land for approximately 3,500 new homes in north Glasgow by using canal infrastructure to manage surface water and reduce flood risk.

Scottish Canals Chief Executive John Paterson said: 

"We are delighted to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Millennium Link and all those who contributed to bringing the Forth & Clyde and Union canals back to life.

"Through continued investment over the last quarter century, our canals and The Falkirk Wheel have become vibrant green-blue spaces and valued national assets, unlocking billions of pounds of economic value for canal-side communities.

"Our thriving waterways are a powerful legacy of National Lottery investment. This transformation has touched so many lives. Today, 1.5 million people live within close reach of a canal in Scotland, more than a quarter of the population.

"The canals now attract more than 20 million visits every year, support active travel for cyclists and walkers, help reduce pressure on road networks and play an important role in creating healthier, better-connected communities."

Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Tourism and Transport Stephen Flynn said: 

“Scotland’s canals make an enormous contribution to our economy, local communities and tourism sector.

“While they are associated with transport, they also play a vital role in supporting regeneration by creating housing and employment opportunities, and supporting connectivity through active travel – improving health and well-being for people and communities.  

“The Scottish Government has provided Scottish Canals with more than £36 million in 2026-27 to invest and ensure we continue to unlock the full potential of Scotland’s waterways for years to come.”

Scottish Canals has marked the 25th anniversary with a year-long programme of events and community activities across the Forth & Clyde and Union canals.

The celebrations have included heritage walk and talk tours, participation in science fairs, orchard and hedgerow restoration projects, a canal-society led flotilla and The Falkirk Wheel put on a spectacular light show after dark in September, the first of its kind in the area.

The organisation also marked the moment in parliament last week with a celebration of the project with invited guests, many of whom were part of the original project team from the ambitious restoration project. The reception was sponsored by Falkirk East and Linlithgow MSP Martyn Day.

Originally built as vital transport routes linking Scotland's east and west coasts, the canals declined following the rise of the railways and were eventually closed during the 1960s. The Millennium Link restoration project reversed that decline, reopening the waterways and securing their future as places that deliver economic, environmental and social value for communities across Scotland.

The full EKOS Development and Investment Activity Along Scotland’s Canal Corridor Report can be found here.