Bridge replacement project 'could cost £25m'

A permanent replacement for a bridge in Derby said to be on the brink of collapse could cost about £25m, a council has said.

Derby City Council leaders have agreed to take ownership of the "extremely vulnerable" Mills Bridge in Darley Abbey so they can fully control future works.

Councillors have also approved receiving a £2m grant to demolish the 1930s structure as a matter of urgency, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Concerns about the bridge were reported to the city council in 2022, and after inspections it was closed on safety grounds.

Due to the bridge's importance to the community and nearby businesses an interim footbridge known as Walter's Walkway was installed, but that structure was temporarily closed in December over safety concerns related to the old bridge.

The situation has proved more complex, given that the historic bridge belongs to the Crown Estate, not the council.

Leaders have said they have been stuck in a "catch-22" situation due to its ownership status, but are now hoping the transfer of power will allow them to exercise full control over what lies ahead.

As well as agreeing the change in ownership status, a cabinet meeting on Wednesday approved £2m funding from the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) to help demolish the original bridge.

Carmel Swan, cabinet member for sustainability, said the Mills Bridge was close to total collapse.

"I hope we will be able to build a bridge that will be there for many, many generations to come," she said.

"The condition of the Mills Bridge has been declining. If we don't intervene, it is unlikely to withstand another winter."

A report states a permanent replacement could cost about £25m.

The council said it was working on a business case which "will support" its request to the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) for funding.

Council leader Nadine Peatfield said the council taking ownership of the bridge was "great news".

"It's a bold but necessary step forward to take ownership of the bridge," she said.

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