By Matt Jarram, Local Democracy Reporter
Nottingham City Council says there have been delays in submitting a planning application for a brand new £9m bridge over the River Trent.
The new pedestrian and cycle bridge at Trent Basin will create better links between West Bridgford and Nottingham city centre.
It will also make it easier for walkers and cyclists to access places such as Colwick Park from the south side of the river as well as Nottingham Forest’s City Ground from the north.
The project is being funded by the Government with a Spring 2023 opening date.
But the Nottingham Local Access Forum heard on Wednesday, April 27, there will be delays in delivering the project.
Keith Morgan, principal senior transport planner at the council, told the forum: “We have got a design and have consulted on the design. We have been working with an architect – and are in the process of talking to people to build that bridge. The logistics, the programme, and the costs on how we will get a bridge in that location. We have delayed the planning application.
“We want to make sure when we put in all these visuals, they are accurate. They are not going to change a lot.”
When asked when the planning application is likely to be submitted, Mr Morgan said: “We will submit a planning application later in the year. It will be at the end of this calendar year and then build it as soon as possible.”
The planning application was due to have been submitted this month (April) but is now set for around “September/November” time.
The structure will be the first new bridge over the River Trent in Nottingham since Clifton Bridge opened in 1958.
The boundary between the city council and Rushcliffe borough runs along the centre of the river, so a joint planning application will be needed.
Last year, it was recommended Trent Basin was the preferred location for the new bridge.
Other options such as Trent Lane were discounted due to complex engineering concerns, potential impacts on existing residents and the need to remove sensitive trees on the south bank.
Building a bridge at Poulton Drive was deemed achievable, but did not offer the same connectivity benefits that the Trent Basin location will provide.