Developers move to reassure residents over bridge

PLANNING DOCUMENTS WRONGLY SAID 800 HOMES WOULD HAVE TO BE SOLD BEFORE ANY BRIDGE WORK

DEVELOPERS behind plans to build the longed-for Walton bridge and bypass have moved to reassure residents after an alarming error appeared in a planning application.

Residents in Walton were concerned to read Countryside Properties wanted to sell 800 homes at Drakelow Park before it would start work on a long-awaited bypass and bridge over the River Trent.

However, bosses at the firm have now said this appeared “in error” and there are no plans to change the existing 400-home threshold.

The firm’s reassurances come after an application to South Derbyshire District Council included a transport assessment which said: “For commercial viability reasons, Countryside Properties seeks approval to increase the Walton Bypass trigger from 400 to 800 homes including the 193 homes that have already been constructed.

“The provision of up to 800 homes is understood to be necessary in order to generate all of the funding that is now required to enable delivery of the bypass and other transport infrastructure.”

It led to concerns from residents infrastructure would not be in place to cater for the massive increase in traffic brought by the housing development.

However, Countryside Properties says it now expects to begin work in the autumn.

A spokesperson for Countryside said: “We are hopeful that the reserved matters planning application will be discussed at planning committee in September, which will allow construction work on the new third river crossing to commence this autumn.

“To allow this to happen, a contractor to build the bridge has now been appointed and detailed designs are currently in development.

“As part of the Section 106 process, we have agreed to construct the bridge before the 400th occupation and we are wholly committed to this.

“This obligation supersedes the information contained within the supplementary transport assessment which will be updated in due course.”

When asked why the transport assessment appeared in the application, the spokesperson added: “The transport assessment was prepared some time ago to assist with the viability of the scheme.

“However, it was quickly deemed unnecessary as it became clear the local desire was to deliver the bypass as soon as possible.

“The inclusion of the assessment within the reserved matters was an error on the part of our consultants and it will be removed.”

Development promises to change shape of traffic in the area The Drakelow Park development will eventually incorporate more than 2,200 homes. Countryside Properties has recently been given permission to build 1,042 of these homes.

The project includes replacing the much-maligned Bailey Bridge, which crosses the River Trent at Drakelow, linking East Staffordshire and South Derbyshire.

It is a single-track bridge subject to weight restrictions that was only ever meant to be a temporary solution when built 70 years ago.

The Walton Bypass will include a new road north of the village, connecting Main Street with the new bridge.

It is understood preliminary works on the scheme have been undertaken.