Decision expected on new bridge over River Severn

Councillors are expected to approve major plans to build a new bridge across the River Severn in Worcester next week.

Worcestershire County Council’s planning committee will be meeting to discuss multi-million-pound plans to build the new walking and cycling bridge across the River Severn between Gheluvelt Park and the old Kepax landfill site.

Council planning officers have recommended the plan is approved when the committee meets at County Hall next Tuesday (July 6).

The cost of the bridge alone will be around £5.8million with £4million coming from Worcestershire County Council, £820,000 from Worcester City Council and £1million from the Government’s Getting Building Fund money allocated to the county.

Cabinet papers from March said the bridge would most likely be built by the end of next year, but the latest planning papers say the bridge should be operational by spring 2023.

County Hall has the final say on the new bridge, but has been working in partnership with the city council on the project.

The bridge would be just under a mile from the city’s Sabrina Bridge and around two miles from Diglis Bridge – the success of which both councils are hoping to emulate.

There are roughly double the number of homes within 500 metres of the proposed bridge than in Diglis, which would mean more people could use the new bridge.

The council expects around 400,000 walking trips and 100,000 cycling trips to be made across the bridge ever year.

A report from the council’s planning officers said: “The key objective of the scheme is to encourage walking and cycling through the provision of new infrastructure, including a river crossing.

“This would encourage a mode shift from cars, where journeys would be quicker on foot or by bicycle and additional walking and cycle trips, particularly leisure trips would occur.”

The planning committee meets from 10am next Tuesday.