 The canal engineer William Jessop was asked to produce a detailed design for the canal, which he estimated would cost £12,542 (), and John Nuttall surveyed the route and produced detailed plans.The Act of Parliament authorising construction was obtained on 3 June 1793, and allowed the owners to raise £13,000, with a further £6,500 if required.Shares were given to investors by a formal agreement, as the canal was not a public company; public status would have prevented the colliery owners from obtaining their 50 per cent reduction of tolls on the Erewash Canal.