Cumbrian infill was a bridge too far
National Highways must unblock portal after retrospective planning permission was refused.
INFILL consisting of around 1540 tonnes of stone and over 100 tonnes of concrete must be removed from the portal of a former railway bridge in Cumbria after retrospective permission for it was refused.
National Highways (NH) completed the work on the structure in summer 2021, which carries the B6259 over a disused section of the Eden Valley line at Great Musgrave, citing it as emergency action exempt from the normal planning process. As the infill was not a temporary measure, however, it was informed by Eden District Council that a planning application would be required.
Meeting on June 16, the council’s planning committee voted unanimously to reject NH’s application.
Damning report
Recommending refusal, a report by the authority’s assistant director of development, said that when compared to “more sympathetic repair and reinforcement”, NH’s claim of the work reducing future costs to the public purse was insufficient to outweigh the harm caused to the bridge.
At the time it was carried out, it was described by the Eden Valley Railway and Stainmore Railway Company (which have heritage operations at the northern and southern ends of the route respectively) as “deeply detrimental” to their shared long-term aim of restoring the rail link between Appleby East and Kirkby Stephen East stations.
The report concluded that, in this respect, however, it was not considered a breach of planning policy as NH had offered to remove the infill if it became the “final issue” preventing reopening of the line.
The situation, highlighted by the HRE Group which campaigns for the better utilisation of former railway assets, gained nationwide attention.
In total, Eden District Council received 913 representations regarding the planning application, only two of which supported it.
No appeal
NH said it respected the committee’s decision and would not be appealing against it. An NH spokesman added it was awaiting Eden District Council’s formal report before working with it and Cumbria County Council, the local highways authority, on next steps.
In April, NH announced a new approach, including considering the heritage and ecological value of such structures, as well as potential for repurposing, before work is carried out.
Hélène Rossiter, head of
HR’s Historical Railways Estate Programme, said that processes had been amended to ensure full planning permission is sought in future before carrying out work similar to that at Great Musgrave.
She added: “We will also no longer consider the infilling of any structures as part of our future plans, unless there is absolutely no alternative.”