Cathedral Green Lifting Bridge, Derby
The £3.8 million redevelopment of Cathedral Green in the heart of Derby included an innovative swing bridge and extensive public realm improvements to draw the people of Derby to this exciting quarter of the city.
Inspiration for the swing bridge design was drawn from Derby’s historic textile industry and in particular the adjacent Silk Mill, which signalled the start of a World Heritage Site, running along the Derwent Valley through Derbyshire. The basic form of the bridge was derived from a tailor’s shears or scissors, in particular the action of the hinged blades as they open and close, allowing watercraft through and high water levels to pass unrestricted.
The lead designer was Rambol and RPS Group was responsible for landscape design.
In 2009 this contract won the Small Civil Engineering Project Category in the British Construction Industry (BCI) Awards, with the following judges’ comment made: “Excellently delivered with care and attention to detailing and finishes”.