PLANS have been lodged for a new bridge in Barrow as part of a national coastal path scheme.

Westmorland and Furness Council has submitted a planning application to construct a 21-metre bridge that spans the valley at Sowerby Wood as part of the King Charles III coast path scheme.

The King Charles III England Coast Path National Trail will go all the way around the coast of England and will be around 2,700 miles long when it is complete. Natural England say over 95 per cent of the English coast is expected to be walkable by the end of 2024.

According to planning documents the coastal path route passes through Sowerby Wood to remain close to the coast whilst avoiding the environmentally sensitive areas on the shore.

Plans say the original proposal was to install steps down to a smaller bridge on the side of the gorge but this proposal was dropped due to concerns that it would be ‘difficult’ to build and ‘costly’ to maintain.

The design and access statement says: “We now intend to install a larger bridge which spans the valley completely, this will reduce disturbance caused by the construction considerably and increase accessibility.

“It will also create an interesting feature on the new coast path being a high-level bridge partially in the tree-tops.”

Plans add the proposed development will involve the removal of one mature sycamore tree and two smaller trees.

This planning application is undergoing public consultation.