New Wear Bridge
Encyclopedia
A New Wear Bridge is planned for Sunderland
, North East England
. The proposed design stands at 180 metres (590 ft), which when constructed will make it the tallest bridge in England.. Originally designed by Spence Associates Architects in 2005, the plans were kept confidential for several years due to funding uncertainties. However following the United Kingdom treasury's agreement to fund a new river Wear crossing, the plans of the bridge became the subject of a public consultation against a far cheaper beam bridge design. The result was that the cable stayed design proved the most popular with the public and building this landmark design became the policy of Sunderland City Council.
, with the purpose of reducing traffic congestion. The bridge was designed by Spence Associates in partnership with structural engineering firm Techniker, and has been tipped to become a landmark for the city. The bridge was designed in 2005, though was kept confidential for several years by the City Council to avoid a rise in expectations until funding was secured. Until then the council was also considering designs for a cheaper, basic design beam bridge. The cost of the design being estimated at £133 million for bridge and associated approaches and roadworks..
The crossing forms part of the vast regeneration plan of the urban regeneration company Sunderland Arc
, who aim to use the bridge as part of their Sunderland Strategic Transport Corridor plans to improve transport links while also helping to improve the city's image.
area were in favour of the 'iconic' design, with the council also backing the ideas meaning plans for a cheaper beam bridge were shelved. The council ultimately believing that the iconic design bridge could help attract more businesses to the city and thus create more jobs.
In September 2009, Sunderland City Council announced that building the landmark bridge became council policy. The United Kingdom government has already announced £93 million towards the construction, whilst regional development agency One NorthEast
will pledge another £8.5 million towards it, with the council funding the other £23 million required.
An official planning application was placed with Sunderland City Council on 7 December 2009 with an consultation expiry date of 29 October 2010. Construction is timetabled to start around 2012. The decision for building the Spence landmark design became Sunderland
City Council policy on 9 September 2009. On November 2009, public notices on the compulsory purchase of land and new rights for the project were published including side roads orders and bridge schemes notices, made under the Highways Act 1980. On 1 April 2009, the Sunderland Echo
make an April Fools' Day
joke article, stating that the cables of the new wear bridge were designed to sway in the wind to create the tune of the Blaydon Races
, a Tyneside
song.
On 26 May 2010 Sunderland Council approved the planning application
City of Sunderland
The City of Sunderland is a local government district of Tyne and Wear, in North East England, with the status of a city and metropolitan borough...
, North East England
North East England
North East England is one of the nine official regions of England. It covers Northumberland, County Durham, Tyne and Wear, and Teesside . The only cities in the region are Durham, Newcastle upon Tyne and Sunderland...
. The proposed design stands at 180 metres (590 ft), which when constructed will make it the tallest bridge in England.. Originally designed by Spence Associates Architects in 2005, the plans were kept confidential for several years due to funding uncertainties. However following the United Kingdom treasury's agreement to fund a new river Wear crossing, the plans of the bridge became the subject of a public consultation against a far cheaper beam bridge design. The result was that the cable stayed design proved the most popular with the public and building this landmark design became the policy of Sunderland City Council.
Specifications
The Bridge is likely to be constructed to the west side of the city on the River WearRiver Wear
The River Wear is located in North East England, rising in the Pennines and flowing eastwards, mostly through County Durham, to the North Sea at Sunderland.-Geology and history:...
, with the purpose of reducing traffic congestion. The bridge was designed by Spence Associates in partnership with structural engineering firm Techniker, and has been tipped to become a landmark for the city. The bridge was designed in 2005, though was kept confidential for several years by the City Council to avoid a rise in expectations until funding was secured. Until then the council was also considering designs for a cheaper, basic design beam bridge. The cost of the design being estimated at £133 million for bridge and associated approaches and roadworks..
The crossing forms part of the vast regeneration plan of the urban regeneration company Sunderland Arc
Sunderland Arc
Sunderland Arc was a privately-owned, non-profit, urban regeneration company based in Sunderland, North East England.It ceased operations in 2011.-History:...
, who aim to use the bridge as part of their Sunderland Strategic Transport Corridor plans to improve transport links while also helping to improve the city's image.
Background & history
In 2008, there was a public consultation on the bridge designs by Sunderland City Council to see if the public would consider the iconic design, or a more basic beam bridge design . After the consultation, the results showed that people in the SunderlandCity of Sunderland
The City of Sunderland is a local government district of Tyne and Wear, in North East England, with the status of a city and metropolitan borough...
area were in favour of the 'iconic' design, with the council also backing the ideas meaning plans for a cheaper beam bridge were shelved. The council ultimately believing that the iconic design bridge could help attract more businesses to the city and thus create more jobs.
In September 2009, Sunderland City Council announced that building the landmark bridge became council policy. The United Kingdom government has already announced £93 million towards the construction, whilst regional development agency One NorthEast
One NorthEast
One North East is the regional development agency for the North East England region.-History:It was established in April 1999. The North East receives a lot of government aid for regeneration....
will pledge another £8.5 million towards it, with the council funding the other £23 million required.
An official planning application was placed with Sunderland City Council on 7 December 2009 with an consultation expiry date of 29 October 2010. Construction is timetabled to start around 2012. The decision for building the Spence landmark design became Sunderland
City of Sunderland
The City of Sunderland is a local government district of Tyne and Wear, in North East England, with the status of a city and metropolitan borough...
City Council policy on 9 September 2009. On November 2009, public notices on the compulsory purchase of land and new rights for the project were published including side roads orders and bridge schemes notices, made under the Highways Act 1980. On 1 April 2009, the Sunderland Echo
Sunderland Echo
The Sunderland Echo is an evening newspaper serving the Sunderland, South Tyneside and East Durham areas of North East England. The newspaper was founded by Samuel Storey, Edward Backhouse, Edward Temperley Gourley, Charles Palmer, Richard Ruddock, Thomas Glaholm and Thomas Scott Turnbull in 1873,...
make an April Fools' Day
April Fools' Day
April Fools' Day is celebrated in different countries around the world on April 1 every year. Sometimes referred to as All Fools' Day, April 1 is not a national holiday, but is widely recognized and celebrated as a day when many people play all kinds of jokes and foolishness...
joke article, stating that the cables of the new wear bridge were designed to sway in the wind to create the tune of the Blaydon Races
Blaydon Races
Blaydon Races is a famous Geordie folk song written in the 19th century by Geordie Ridley, in a style deriving from music hall. It is regarded by many as the unofficial anthem of Tyneside and is frequently sung by supporters of Newcastle United Football Club and Newcastle Falcons rugby club...
, a Tyneside
Tyneside
Tyneside is a conurbation in North East England, defined by the Office of National Statistics, which is home to over 80% of the population of Tyne and Wear. It includes the city of Newcastle upon Tyne and the Metropolitan Boroughs of Gateshead, North Tyneside and South Tyneside — all settlements on...
song.
On 26 May 2010 Sunderland Council approved the planning application