New Pooley Bridge

The small community of Pooley Bridge is the northern gateway into the Lake District National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a beautiful landscape. The original river crossing, which gives Pooley Bridge its name, was a Grade II listed 3-span stone arch, built in 1764. It served as a critical link in the daily life of the area but was abruptly destroyed in the floods of December 2015. The shock of its destruction was partially relieved by the installation of a temporary Bailey Bridge three months later, but its ongoing presence was a daily reminder of loss and vulnerability.

The opening of the new permanent bridge has been an emotional relief to the community, reconnecting the Ullswater valley and restoring normality to the village after five years. The new structure was carefully designed following an intense stakeholder engagement process. Listening to the community and focusing on their common aspirations lead to a design that satisfies the technical standards whilst fitting with the communities' sense of identity.

The new bridge is a 40m span open-spandrel arch bridge, carrying a single road lane and two pavements with a composite stainless steel and concrete structure – the first of its kind in the UK. Its width varies between 7.5m and 9.5m.

Knight Architects’ scope comprised the stakeholder engagement process, options analysis, concept design, and client technical guidance through the detailed design and construction stages.