He reported his suggestions in September, and probably also recommended that an additional link northwards from the western end to the River Mersey would be beneficial, since the Birmingham Canal Company described him as the 'originator and proposer' of the route in January 1825.

The Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal stood to lose some traffic, and so negotiated compensation tolls and protection for their water supply.

The Trent and Mersey Canal were also concerned about loss of traffic, and the proposal spurred them on to start work on their Harecastle Tunnel, which had been authorised in 1823.

4. c. xcv), was obtained for the new line in May 1826, which authorised the company to raise a working capital of £400,000, with an extra £100,000 if required.

A second contract for the High Offley to Church Eaton section was awarded to W. A. Provis in 1829, who also became responsible for construction of the Newport Branch to the Shrewsbury Canal.

He also had to construct a diversion around the game reserves of Lord Anson at Shelmore, which involved an embankment around 1 mile (1.6 km) long and up to 60 feet (18 m) high.

The total cost was around £800,000, with the extra money coming from shareholders and the Exchequer Bill Loan Commissioners.

[9] The main supply of water was from the Belvide Reservoir, on the initial section near to where the canal crossed Watling Street (now the A5 road) on an aqueduct.

This was later supplemented by the outflow from the Barnhurst sewage treatment works which was built near Autherley Junction, to serve the people of Wolverhampton.

[13] Tolls for carriage of goods on the canal were set lower than had been proposed, due to the threat of railway competition.

[15] The company became authorised to carry passengers and goods in 1842, and could also provide haulage for boats owned by other carriers.

These proved successful, and by late 1843 they had eight steam tugs which were used to haul boats from Autherley to Ellesmere Port.

The project was abandoned soon afterwards, and William Bishton was contracted to supply horse haulage for boats on the canal.