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Bridge over the River Nene moves a step closer

Peterborough City Council An artist's impression showing people walking on a bridge over a river. The bridge is wide enough for pedestrians and cyclists. On the right hand side, the bridge has a tall stanchion which is holding the wires that support the footpath over the river. A canal boat is going under the bridge. There are trees and fields on the riverbank. In the distance, Peterborough Cathedral can be seen.Peterborough City Council
An artist's impression of a planned bridge over the River Nene in Peterborough

A council has moved a step closer to building a footbridge over a river.

Peterborough City Council hopes a new bridge for walkers and cyclists over the River Nene in Peterborough will ease pressure on city centre traffic routes.

A senior council officer has now approved the £6.3 million "Cygnet Bridge" project.

The project aims to link the Fletton Quays development to the Embankment and building should start within three years.

Peterborough City Council An artist's impression showing people walking near a bridge over a river. This view of the bridge is closer. The wires holding the bridge stretch down from above. People are walking on a wide footpath next to the river. A warehouse-style building can be seen on the other side of the river. A canal boat is going under the bridge.Peterborough City Council
A council submitted plans for the footbridge over the River Nene during the summer of 2024

Plans show that the 311ft (95m) bridge will form part of the city's "green wheel" and provide "a sustainable travel connection" linking a university campus, the city centre and the cathedral.

The council submitted a planning application during the summer of 2024.

A spokeswoman said Adrian Chapman, the council's executive director of place and economy, had approved the project.

Planning committees, made up of elected members, often consider planning applications.

But the spokeswoman said rules meant that not all applications had to be considered by committees - and senior officers could make decisions.

When can an officer decide?

The Local Government Association has published an online guide explaining when decisions are made by committees - and when they are made by delegated officers.

Every council has a "scheme of delegation" to identify the circumstances where planning consent decisions are taken by planning committees rather than delegated to officers, says the guide.

Councils decide which "matters" are referred to planning committees based on a range of factors.

Those factors include:

  • The level of interest from local people
  • Whether an application is contentious and accords with council policies
  • The impact a development will have on the local community
  • Probity issues, where the council could be perceived as being biased if the application is delegated to officers

Funding for the bridge project will come from various pots, according to a Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) report.

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority had contributed £3.4m, the government had pledged £2m from a "towns fund" and the city council would pay the remainder, said the LDRS report.

"Cygnet Bridge will provide a sustainable travel connection across the River Nene between the Embankment, Fletton Quays and the City Centre," said the council in a statement published online.

"The bridge will offer pedestrians and cyclists an alternative route across the river, away from the busy main road.

"It will create a good link from the south of the city to the new university campus."

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