Issue - meetings

Report of the Director for Growth and Economic Development

Mr Chris Carter - Nottingham City Council delivered a presentation to advise the Group of the Transforming Cities Funding Programme, totalling £161m shared with Derby, of which £40m is to be spent on enhancing the walking and cycling network in Nottingham, including £9m allocated for the new foot/cycling bridge and associated connections across the River Trent.

Mr Carter advised the Group that Nottingham City Council had been working on a strategic network of footpaths and cycle routes through collaborative work across the D2N2 area to create a Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP). The LCWIP focuses on areas the bridge will enhance, including a connection to Derby, Nottingham and local urban connections.

Mr Carter explained that the bridge is the highest profile scheme and provided the Group with details of the projects Governance.

Mr Paul Horn – Project Manager, Nottingham City Council continued with the presentation, providing plans showing the existing bridges currently used by pedestrians and cyclists at Clifton, Wilford, Trent Bridge and Lady Bay and the proposed new bridge location at Waterside Nottingham. Waterside Nottingham being a regeneration site located in the Trent Basin, connecting to Trent Fields, West Bridgford on the Rushcliffe side and providing commuting and leisure routes through the Waterside site and onto the City Centre or Gedling to the east.

Mr Horn explained that funding had been granted for a bridge at Waterside Nottingham and that the City Council were looking at 3 locations within this area the area, Trent Basin, Poulton Drive and Trent Lane, the most favourable site being Trent Basin.  In addition, Mr Horn advised the Group that to the south of the river there are still some challenges but discussions with landowners so far have gone well, including Notts County Football Club, Nottingham Forest Football Club, Nottingham Rugby Club and Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club who recognise the benefits of a new bridge. 

Mr Horn provided images at the Trent Basin site, explaining that there was currently no development, but there are plans for high value housing here and that discussions with the developer were ongoing. Further images of the site plan and bridge designs were provided for the Group to consider.

In concluding, Mr Horn provided details of the projects work programme with a public exhibition and consultation expected by September/October 2021, and following this a planning application is expected to be submitted December 2021/January 2022, with construction starting Autumn 2022 and completion by spring 2023.  Mr Horn added that the City Council will continue to engage with stakeholders ahead of a formal consultation and public engagement, adding that connecting communities both sides of the river will require joint working across the City Council, County Council and the Borough.

The Chairman reminded the Group that the purpose of this item is for the Group to provide support for the new bridge proposal and to consider any planning issues that may arise.

The Chairman asked which of the three proposals is the City Council’s preferred location for the bridge and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3