Nottingham City Council has entered into a £12.6m delivery contract with Balfour Beatty to deliver the city’s new 85-metre-long walking and cycling bridge over the River Trent.
Balfour Beatty has a proven track record of delivering high-profile infrastructure projects, and it is expected that over 100 people will be employed during the project, including four apprentices.
The network arch bridge will be 20 metres high from its deck to its peak, weighing in at 160 tonnes—about as much as a blue whale.
The new foot and cycle bridge will link the north side of the river, where the new Trent Basin community of 350 homes continues to take shape, with the south side of the river, where sports facilities, riverside walks, and green spaces are close by.
This contract signing signals the start of construction for the bridge scheme, with the first activity on site being the demolition of the warehouse previously used by Flo Skate Park—this is required to create the space necessary for the construction of the bridge.
Construction timeline:
- February/March: Site clearance, including vegetation clearance and demolishing a warehouse formerly used by Flo Skate Park.
- March: Balfour Beatty will bring equipment, materials, and cabins to the site.
- April onwards: Pilings are screwed into the ground to support the bridge structure.
- Summer – autumn: The bridge will be built on-site using large, prefabricated sections of steel arriving from local company Briton Fabricators Ltd, based just eight miles away in Hucknall.
- November: The completed bridge and basin bridge will be lifted into place on their supports by a huge crane.
- Winter 2025/26: Ramps, steps, and hard and soft landscaping will be completed, including paving, planting, and lighting.
- Spring 2026: The new bridge opens.
Nottingham City Council will keep residents regularly updated on the progress of the bridge project via its Transport Nottingham website and emails, as well as working to keep nearby residents and businesses informed throughout the project.
The new bridge will be the first built in the city since the 1950s—linking the north side of the river with popular Colwick Park, along with the regenerating Trent Basin area, and the south side of the river with its many sports facilities, including the City Ground, Trent Bridge, Holme Pierrepont, and Nottingham Rugby Club.
The new bridge is entirely funded by the Transforming Cities Fund, provided by Central Government. The bridge will be the flagship and final project to come out of the City Council’s Transforming Cities Fund programme, which began in 2020 following a successful joint bid between Nottingham and Derby for over £160 million of Central Government funding for projects that encourage inter-city connectivity and lower-carbon journeys.
In addition to the construction of the bridge, work is underway to ensure that it will be well connected to the high-quality cycle route on Daleside Road, with wider sustainable transport connections through to the city centre, as well as along the banks of the river to Colwick Park.
Nottingham City Council Leader and Executive Member for Strategic Regeneration, Transport and Communications, Councillor Neghat Khan, said:
“I’m delighted to share that Nottingham City Council has officially partnered with Balfour Beatty, our trusted lead delivery partner, to bring our exciting new walking and cycling bridge to life. This ambitious project, fully funded by Central Government through the Transforming Cities Fund, marks a significant step toward a greener, more connected future.”
“I’m eager to see construction progress and watch this landmark take shape on our city’s skyline. Once completed, the bridge will enhance Nottingham’s cycling and pedestrian network, providing a safe, traffic-free route over the river and empowering more people to travel sustainably and healthily.”
Errol Wisby, Portfolio Director at Balfour Beatty, said:
“We’re pleased to have partnered with Nottingham City Council and SCAPE to deliver this landmark project, which will enhance connectivity and promote sustainable travel in Nottingham city centre.
“We now look forward to works commencing in earnest and seeing the positive impact this project will have on Nottingham and its residents, both now and in the future.”
Ricky Lee, Associate Director of Project Management at Pick Everard, which delivers project and cost management and health and safety services for the scheme, said:
“This is a landmark scheme for Nottingham City Council and the wider community, with the bridge itself set to be one of the longest single-spanning network arch bridges for cyclists and pedestrians in the UK.
“Naturally, a project of this scale requires extensive collaboration across various stakeholders to ensure it is a successful and rewarding scheme for residents and those visiting the city.
“Operating under Perfect Circle via the SCAPE Consultancy Framework, we’re looking forward to work commencing on-site, which complements wider regeneration efforts across the city and recognises Nottingham as a sustainable place to work and live.”
Rushcliffe Borough Council’s Leader, Councillor Neil Clarke, said:
“This is another milestone for the project and a step closer to more connectivity for residents on both sides of the river, offering further opportunities to travel in a more sustainable way.
“Creating this new link for cyclists and pedestrians will provide easier access to nearby open spaces in Lady Bay and West Bridgford, as well as our local sports grounds and leisure facilities, encouraging more people to make lower-carbon journeys.”
