By Joe Locker, Local Democracy Reporter
Nottingham councillors described plans for a new bridge over the River Trent as “sustainable, accessible and exciting” as they voted them through unanimously.
The pedestrian and cycle bridge will link Trent Basin, which sits off Daleside Road in the city, to the south bank of the river close to the Hook nature reserve in Lady Bay, Rushcliffe.
It will become the first new crossing built over the river in the city in more than 60 years.
A full planning application was submitted by Nottingham City Council in February following lengthy delays, and councillors unanimously supported the proposals at a meeting on Wednesday, April 17.
Full construction will not start until Rushcliffe Borough Council’s Planning Committee has also approved the plans, expected in the coming months.
Cllr Pavlos Kotsonis (Lab), the portfolio holder for leisure, culture and planning, said the bridge will prove a great addition to the motor traffic bridges that already exist.
“I cannot think of one person who would be offended by this. It is a great development in the Trent Basin area,” he said.
“The beneficiaries would be the walkers, the runners, the cyclists, the residents of Trent Basin, the residents that live in the county.
“You have got increased connectivity between that part in the county, Lady Bay is more accessible, the Lady Bay retail park is more accessible.
“You have got West Bridgford more accessible, Green’s Mill on the other side, Colwick Park and the National Water Sports Centre. So you have got a number of different stakeholders all in support of the development.
“No council money is being used for this particular development. It is great and it is about our vision for the city as well. It ties in with our ambition to become Carbon Neutral by 2028.”
Cllr Kirsty Jones (Lab) added: “It is accessible for people with disabilities too.
“So there are ramps there for people using wheelchairs and pushchairs too. It is really positive.”
Consultancy firm Pick Everard will deliver the bridge project alongside infrastructure group Balfour Beatty.
Money for the bridge will come from the Department for Transport (DfT) Transforming Cities Fund.
It is expected to cost in the region of £12m, having increased from £9m due to inflation since the project planning began.
The ‘network arch-style’ bridge, which is a rare design, will be four metres in width, up from the previously proposed 3.5 metres, following a public consultation.
An online survey received a total of 1,198 responses, with 83 per cent supporting the scheme, 65 per cent supporting the proposed location, and 75 per cent liking the proposed design.
Amphitheatre-style steps will form the base of the bridge ramp and, in addition to the main bridge, a connecting bridge over Trent Basin will also be built.
Cllr Sam Lux (Lab), the deputy chairwoman of the Planning Committee, questioned whether CCTV would be installed and if a maintenance budget would be allocated.
A council planning officer said: “It is something they would intend to include in the project.
“It is something we have not sought to secure by planning conditions as such, because it is a city council project and we are very much responsible in terms of how we take on the management and maintenance of it.”
Lighting will be installed at hand-rail level, rather than via the installation of floodlights.
Councillors were further told a maintenance budget was not for consideration at Planning Committee.
