Plans in for Beverley railway bridge
A pedestrian, cycle, and bridleway over the Hull to Scarborough railway line in the East Yorkshire town is intended to improve connectivity and support the delivery of thousands of new homes.
The proposed bridge would be built to the south of the town centre, close to Minster Way, creating a new crossing between emerging housing developments on either side of the railway line.
The scheme has been developed by East Riding of Yorkshire Council, in consultation with Historic England and Network Rail, and is intended to replace existing at-grade crossings that have been identified as requiring improvement.
Network Rail temporarily closed the England Springs level crossing in November 2022 following a safety assessment, with the proposed bridge identified as a safer long-term alternative that would allow the crossing to be permanently closed while maintaining links for pedestrians, cyclists, equestrians and disabled users.
The bridge forms part of the wider strategy for a housing growth area that has planning consent across several sites. Around 2,633 new homes are expected to be delivered in phases, with previous planning permissions based on the provision of the new crossing and developer contributions towards its delivery.
The proposed structure would connect the western side of the development area to Long Lane and provide improved routes to local shops, workplaces, community facilities, and open spaces. It is also intended to support active travel by creating a safer cycle and walking route.
The site currently comprises grassland, hedgerows, former agricultural land, and areas of tall vegetation. The bridge would be located within a historic setting, with the proposals designed to protect views towards the grade one-listed Beverley Minster through sensitive landscaping and biodiversity measures.
An alternative underpass option was considered but discounted following a feasibility study, which identified challenges including flood risk, ground settlement, construction complexity, potential anti-social behaviour and increased costs.
