A MULTI-MILLION pound project to improve the Cotswold Water Park could begin in the summer.

Cotswold Water Park Trust, which recently took over from the CWP Society, has applied for a £2million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund which will pay for a variety of projects across the site.

News of whether the application, the biggest in the charity’s history, is successful is expected to be heard by July. Work will then begin in August.

Matthew Millett, joint acting chief executive officer of the CWPS said it was an exciting time for the organisation.

"This is the biggest application that the Trust has ever put in for by far," he said. "This project, if we get the funds for it, will make a huge difference to the Water Park."

The money will pay for a variety of schemes including a floodplain restoration project, landscape history project, community day events, improved footpaths, accessible nature trails and training for volunteers and land managers.

The overall cost will be £3.1million with the remainder of the money coming from the CWP Joint Committee, grants, the Environment Agency and section 106 financial agreements arising from local planning applications.

Mr Millett said the project would create better links between the different areas of the land, help to teach how the site has been created while making visits to the area more enjoyable.

"This will change the Water Park for the better," he added.

"We need to keep momentum going and really push forward to improve things."

Toby Sturgis, chairman of the Cotswold Water Park Joint Committee, said he fully backed the application.

In a letter to Mr Millett he said: "This application fulfils important aspects of the Joint Committee’s objectives for the furtherance of the Cotswold Water Park as a vibrant landscape for people and wildlife.

"These programmes, when taken together, will help cement a sense of place for the Cotswold Water Park landscape."