CREST Nicholson stepped up its Brightwells pre-commencement works - submitting revised plans for a temporary A31 construction access bridge over the River Wey to minimise the redevelopment’s impact on Farnham town centre.

The developer’s application (WA/2018/0544) set outs plans for a ‘dual lane’ temporary road bridge connecting the Brightwells site with the Farnham bypass - replacing the narrower, single lane bridge approved by Waverley Borough Council in 2012.

Explaining the change, Crest’s plans state: “Upon appraisal of the updated traffic data it has become evident that the one-way working arrangement for the bridge would not deliver the sufficient capacity to accommodate the peak demand for movements to and from the site.

“As a consequence, the safety implications of vehicles backing up onto the A31 corridor would prove difficult to overcome.”

Rather than a purpose-made ‘steel I beam’ structure as agreed in 2012, Crest now proposes a ‘Janson’, or similar, prefabricated proprietary panel bridge. This. it says, can be reused when no longer required for Brightwells, “adding to the sustainability credentials for the scheme”.

The revised plans increase the road width of the temporary bridge from 3.6 to 7.42 metres, and also includes a separate pedestrian footpath “for the safety of site operatives”.

The developer also claims its proposed structure “can be installed and dismantled in minimal time and with minimal disruption” compared to its predecessor, removing the need for a large mobile crane “disrupting the A31”.

It will, however, likely require a lane closure of the A31 during construction and dismantling of the bridge - details of which are yet to be confirmed.