New footbridge & lifts at Winchester Railway Station - TrustNews Dec 12
Network Rail intend to build a footbridge (including lifts) over the rails at the station and sent their scheme to the City Council for comment - this is a form of permitted development that cannot be refused or deferred, and it does not appear on the planning list so comments are not invited. However the Trust has seen comments by the City Council’s conservation officer and Network Rail’s response as follows:
One part of the Winchester Conservation Area extends close to the platform buildings, adjacent to the east side of the proposed footbridge. The new footbridge is of sufficient scale, bulk and height that it is likely to be intervisible with this and other, more distant, parts of the conservation area. I would estimate that it is likely to have an impact on the setting of the Winchester Conservation Area.
I do not believe any listed buildings close enough to have their settings significantly affected by these proposals. Local Plan Policy HE.4 and The National Planning Policy Framework apply. The principal heritage issue is the affect of the proposals on the setting of the Winchester Conservation Area. In this case only small parts of the Winchester Conservation would be inter visible with the new footbridge structure. Those parts would either be at sufficient distance, or else they are sufficiently well screened that the visual impact on the conservation area would be slight. I am unable to identify any specific harm to significant views or to the wider landscape setting of the conservation area.
I understand in this case that, if it wished to object to the proposals, the council would be required to be satisfied that the development could and ought reasonably be carried out elsewhere on the land, or, alternatively, that the external appearance would injure local amenity and is capable of modification so as to avoid such injury.
If the proposed footbridge were re-located to the other end of the platforms, it would be recessed in the railway cutting and consequently less visible from outside the station. However, as I am not a railway engineer, I am not qualified to suggest whether or not this alternative location is reasonable. Apart from recommending that the metal claddings are painted and maintained in matt light grey, (so as to reduce their visual impact, particularly in long views), we have no recommendations for modifying the design.
These comments were sent to Network Rail who replied:
‘In response to the issues raised, during the outline design and feasibility stage of the project, both options for the potential location of the footbridge were considered. At the southern end of the platform (the country end) there is a large amount of cabling located within the platform, as well as further high voltage cabling. This would have to be diverted in order to construct the footbridge, which would cause significant disruption (possession/closure) to the railway and is prohibitively expensive, therefore this option could not be pursued.’
The Trust recognises the difficulties those with luggage, push chairs or the disabled have at the station and, in the light of the above information, made no further comment.