NFDC ‘actively engaging’ and South Western Railway ‘ready to work’ with Barratt Homes over long-delayed Lymington Shores footbridge

A COUNCIL is “actively engaging” and a rail firm “ready to work” with the new developer over a controversial Lymington footbridge.

Following its buyout of Redrow, Barratt Developments is now responsible for the 168-home Lymington Shores, off Bridge Road.

Last year Redrow claimed it could not build a required footbridge linking the town station to the site until stakeholders at Network Rail, South Western Railway and the county council “agree to a workable solution”.

But after the multi-million-pound merger, Barratt stuck to that line, with the company’s spokesperson Derek Harris telling the A&T: “Nothing has changed since we [Redrow] gave you the previous comment.”

Quoting Redrow Southern Counties managing director Matt Paine, Mr Harris said: “We remain committed to resolving this issue and have funding set aside to do so.

“The matter remains highly complicated and we’re continuing to work with all parties including Network Rail, South Western Railways (sic) and Hampshire County Council to find a workable solution for the wider community at Lymington Shores.

“In order for us to be able to successfully conclude this long-running matter we need all stakeholders to agree to a workable solution.”

In response to Barratt’s comments, an NFDC spokesperson told the A&T: “We are actively engaging with the developer on the Lymington Shores development to ensure that the appropriate infrastructure for the site is delivered.”

A South Western Railway spokesperson said the firm was “ready to work” with Barratt to help get the approvals needed “in order to meet their planning obligations”.

A Department for Transport spokesperson said the issue was now a “matter for the local authority”, while Hampshire County Council and Network Rail were also approached for a comment.

Redrow, which won permission to develop Lymington Shores in 2012, had tried to drop its commitment to build a footbridge at the site, even going so far as to take its case to the High Court last year.

After losing that case, Redrow was urged by Lymington Society members and others in the town to come up with a new plan to build the bridge.

Despite its obligation to build the bridge, the developer was still claiming as of last April that it was awaiting stakeholder consents from the county council, South Western Railway, Network Rail and the Department for Transport.

Last year Matt Paine had told the A&T: “In order to be able to construct the bridge, Redrow has to have approval from Network Rail, South Western Railways, as the franchise holder for the provision of rail services, and the Department for Transport.

“These consents have not been forthcoming to date.”

He also claimed at the time that Redrow “absolutely share your frustration, and that of those in the wider Lymington community, of being in a position where we cannot currently deliver the bridge or the non-residential elements that formed part of the original planning consent”.

Responding to those comments, prior to Redrow’s buyout, a county council spokesperson said: “We could take responsibility for a new footbridge once built, in the same way that we routinely maintain many other major structures across Hampshire.

“However, in this case, and as described in the legal agreement, the footbridge would need to be built to an adoptable standard and come with funding to support its ongoing maintenance.”

Contradicting Redrow’s claims, a Department for Transport spokesperson said then it had “not received a request to approve the bridge proposal”.