A new multi-million pound bridge over the River Trent will ‘add to Nottingham’s skyline’, the City Council’s leader said.
Plans for the £9.2m footbridge linking West Bridgford and the City Centre were unanimously approved by Nottingham City councillors today – meaning the proposals will now go to planning permission.
Trent Basin was chosen as the preferred site for the arch steel bridge after Poulton Drive and Trent Lane were discounted as options.
The structure will be the first new bridge over the River Trent in Nottingham since Clifton Bridge opened in 1958.
Leader of the council David Mellen (Lab) said during an Executive Board meeting on December 21: “There is a number of iconic shots of Nottingham, market square, Wollaton Hall and maybe the windmill.
“The river is often featured and having another bridge will add to Nottingham’s skyline, as well as it being useful. The designs look really beautiful as well.
“In many other cities the river is the middle of the city – and it isn’t quite in Nottingham but we can’t do much about that. We can make a feature of it which is really important.”
The bridge will also make it easier for walkers and cyclists to access places like Colwick Park from the south side of the river as well as the Nottingham Forest stadium.
During a consultation on the plans, 854 people (72% of respondents) said they supported the proposals ‘to a great extent’.
Councillor Linda Woodings (Lab) said during the meeting: “When I put the Waterside planning document through Executive Board 12 months ago and that originally had three different locations for the bridge.
“The one we settled upon was the one we felt would be most used especially by cyclists to try and divert them away from Trent bridge which is very narrow.
“The location they’ve picked is ideal because it links in with cycle infrastructure.
“This is just an additional benefit for the people living in that area and for people who want to transit through from one side to the other safely.”
The boundary between the City Council and Rushcliffe Borough runs along the centre of the river, so a joint planning application will be needed.
The Government-funded project has an expected Spring 2023 opening date.
