Council backing for new bridge over River Trent in Nottingham

Plans for the steel arch bridge were originally unveiled in November 2021

Plans for the first new crossing over the River Trent in Nottingham in 65 years have been recommended for approval by council officers.

An application for an 87m bridge to link the Trent Basin and the south bank of the river by the Hook nature reserve in Lady Bay was submitted by Nottingham City Council in February.

Its planning committee will meet on 17 April to discuss the proposals.

Balfour Beatty and consultants Pick Everard are set to work on the project.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), the bridge will be for cyclists and pedestrians and is expected to cost about £12m, with funding coming from the Department for Transport Transforming Cities Fund.

An online survey received 1,198 responses, with 83% supporting the scheme, 65% backing the proposed location and 75% liking the design plans.

Nottingham Civic Society said it "wholeheartedly supports" the plans, with other groups including Nottingham Friends of the Earth, also adding backing.

The land on the north side of the river forms part of housing developer Blueprint's Trent Basin site, which will build about 350 homes and apartments.

On the other side of the river, the southern landing, abutments and ramps will fall on Environment Agency-owned embankment land, and the city council is in the process of acquiring part of it to build and maintain the scheme.

As the development also falls in the administrative area of Rushcliffe Borough Council, that authority will also need to give permission before work can begin.

The city council told the LDRS that while it cannot comment because it is both the applicant and planning authority, it is waiting to hear from Rushcliffe Borough Council as to when it will go to its planning committee.