£1m railway bridge clears planning hurdle - but further obstacles to cross

MAJOR stumbling blocks remain for an “essential” £1m railway footbridge connecting Lymington with the former Webbs chicken factory development despite clearing a vital planning hurdle.

New Forest District Council has granted permission for the long-awaited pedestrian crossing which is a condition housebuilder Redrow must fulfil before it can finish the riverside scheme of 168 homes.

Now the developer must get the go-ahead from Network Rail and South Western Railway (SWR) which both have decisive interests in the Lymington Town train station site in Station Street.

However, SWR told the A&T it was unaware Redrow had even submitted the planning application – despite commenting to NFDC about the plans in June warning that the Department for Transport would have to be consulted.

Although supportive of the principle of a railway bridge, SWR said agreement was still needed for how it would affect public access and layout of the car park, where spaces will drop from 15 to 13.

A spokesperson said: “Hopefully Redrow will come back with proposals that take into account what we have said to them.”

The plans approved by NFDC showed a bridge 34.5-metre long and 2.4 metres wide just north of the station building. It would be open 24 hours a day and comprise a steel frame with glass canopies and brick-clad lift tower.

Planning conditions for the housing development mean the bridge must be in place by the time of the 125th open market home being occupied, which was eased last year from the original deadline of the 75th. The number reached so far is 117.

An NFDC planning report said: “The provision of the footbridge is an essential element of the Lymington Shores development as it will provide a link between it and the town centre.”

The multi-million-pound scheme includes plans for a restaurant, art gallery and commercial space, the report said, adding that their success is “highly dependent on the provision of the bridge as this would enable convenient access to the development from the rest of the town”.

Redrow has said it would save residents about five minutes’ walk from not having to go via Lymington Shores’ main entry on Bridge Road.

A company spokesperson said: “Further to the submission of our revised planning application for the new pedestrian bridge to connect Lymington Shores and the main town, we are delighted to confirm this has recently been approved.

“Our focus now is on coordinating with all stakeholders involved to bring forward the delivery of the bridge itself.”

Hampshire County Council raised no objection to the footbridge, subject to signing off details of areas it would adopt as highways authority.

When the plans were unveiled in the spring, Redrow estimated the crossing might be completed by October next year.

Network Rail did not respond to the A&T’s request for comment.