Plans for new footbridge over River Nene in Peterborough officially submitted

Plans for a new pedestrian bridge over the River Nene in Peterborough have been submitted.

The proposed bridge will link the new Fletton Quays development to the Embankment.

The bridge has been designed to improve connectivity between the two areas of the city centre, encourage more journeys to be undertaken on foot and by bicycle, shorten the travel time between the areas and to support the city’s aim to become a ‘walkable city.’

It has been estimated that the new footbridge will cut travel time between Fletton Quays and the city centre by 132 seconds (2 minutes 12 seconds).

It will also form an extension of the city’s Green Wheel and will span 95m across the Nene

Work is expected to start on site in late 2024 with the bridge to be ready to open in summer 2025.

The bridge is expected to cost over £5m. Of that figure, £2m has been secured from the government’s Towns Fund, £3.4 has been contributed by the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, with the remaining sum to come from the city council’s redevelopment budget. This budget includes contributions from developers.

A public consultation regarding the plans was held in May and June 2023, which helped to decide that the bridge will be named Cygnet Bridge.

Cygent Bridge triumphed ahead of other suggestions on the shortlist such as the King Charles Bridge, Embankment Bridge, Charles Swift Bridge and Walter’s Bridge with 28% of the vote following over 500 consultation responses.

The application states: “The existing sustainable travel connectivity between the Fletton Quays and the Embankment Area is poor.

"The river Nene is a considerable constraint to providing pedestrian and cycle links. The existing pedestrian and cycle routes are indirect, the A15 Town River Bridge is the only feasible nearby crossing which is alongside a busy road with poor infrastructure.

"Peterborough’s successful bid to the Government Towns Fund will enable ten inter-linked projects to boost the city with a wealth of cultural, health and wellbeing and tourism improvements.

"This will be complemented by plans for the Embankment set out in the Masterplan document for a green, accessible place for residents to relax and enjoy for leisure and entertainment purposes, linking in with the new university and creating footfall to and from the city centre.”