No progress on promised Lymington Shores footbridge after Redrow’s merger with Barratt Homes

THE ongoing row over a promised footbridge at a prominent Lymington housing development shows no signs of progress despite a change of developer.

Residents at Lymington Shores are still waiting for their crossing to the town’s station, which was agreed when Redrow Homes won permission in 2012 to build 168 properties on the former Webbs chicken factory site off Bridge Road. The bridge was initially expected to have been completed in 2019.

But construction stalled, and Redrow asked NFDC in 2021 to scrap the requirement. In April last year the High Court threw out its latest appeal over the scheme. There are still 17 open-market homes on site which cannot be sold until the bridge has been delivered.

In November 2023, Redrow said it was awaiting approval from Hampshire County Council, South Western Railway, Network Rail and the Department for Transport – but both railway firms said they were still waiting on Redrow to get in touch.

Redrow was taken over by Barratt Homes in August, with the two agreeing a £2.5bn merger to become Barratt Redrow, which was completed in October.

Following the merger, town conservation group the Lymington Society wrote to the new company urging its CEO David Thomas to “reevaluate the current position” and give home-owners at the development “the amenities they were promised”.

“The site remains unfinished with unsold apartments, gallery, restaurants and retail units and no sign of any compromise,” society chair Don Mackenzie told Mr Thomas.

“We would be very grateful if you, and the new board of Barratt Redrow, would look into the circumstances surrounding this site with a view to stepping in and getting it finally finished as originally planned.”

In response, Matt Paine, managing director at Redrow Southern Counties, 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 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.”

Mr Mackenzie said Mr Paine’s reply “isn't very reassuring” and was “more or less identical” to the response given before the merger.

The A&T has asked Barratt Redrow for more details on the stalled plans.