PRESS RELEASE

Essex County Council's Development and Regulation Committee met on 25.04.2025 to determine Highway's planning application for Boxted Bridge.  The planning officer's recommendation was to approve.  In a highly unusual motion, however, the members of the committee voted 9-2 in favour of deferring a decision, None were in favour. They are seeking further information. The entire committee is to visit the bridge.

Members asked pointedly whether the proposal being presented was the only safe alternative to closure. This was not denied. Nevertheless members did not see why that should be the case. They asked for more information on alternatives, notably a like-for-like reconstruction. 

Unease was expressed about the implications of not complying with NL legislation to ‘seek to further the purpose’ of the protected National Landscape and demolishing a heritage asset. It was noted that independent expert reports say it could be repaired or renewed like-for-like. Mr Ed Morton, eminent heritage bridge conservation specialist, spoke to reaffirm his views that “the bridge can be retained and repaired.” Highways’ own independent expert, Cleveland Bridge came to a positive recommendation in favour of like-for-like.

Babergh DC Suffolk, will also determine the application as it is a cross county bridge. It is not known what would happen if they disagree with Essex.  It seems it would likely go to judicial review or to the Secretary of State to decide. Members thought it would be useful to hear Babergh’s comments before a decision is made.

Speaker, Cllr Lewis Barber, ECC, stressed the importance of National Landscape (NL) legislation which carries significant weight in planning law. The committee were asked to bear in mind ‘that the organisation that gave Cllrs their training on the new NL legislation have submitted an objection to the application on the basis that it does not conform to NL policy and the legislation. … . I want to stress that because the repair option has not been fully considered in the same way that the replacement option has. .. we have jumped effectively to the replacement option. And my stance has always been that we should fully review and take into account the repair option so that we can make sure that it has been looked at in the context of the NL legislation'. 

Cllr Jon Hunt, Boxted Parish Council has commented: 

‘After several years of unsubstantiated claims, poor communications, un-minuted decisions and long silences from Essex Highways and Ringway Jacobs, it was particularly refreshing to see and hear Essex County Council members so readily and empathetically embrace the issues with the Boxted Bridge replacement proposal. Members eloquently summarised the proposal as being an excellent designed bridge but totally wrong for the place and setting. Their decision not to approve the recommendation of their own planning officers sends a strong message to Highways to reconsider the options and at the very least produce more substantive evidence of their case for replacement and enlargement of the structure’.

Anne Brown, Planning Officer Dedham Vale Society and former ECC councillor has commented:

‘A good result, as far as it goes: but this time we need to make absolutely sure that consideration of alternatives is impartial and transparent. There are well established guidelines for that.’

Link  to watch the full planning meeting The 7 speeches against the proposal start at 37 minutes

Save our Bridge!