£20m bridge and bypass hit as eight-month delay okayed

AN extension for a delay-hit under-construction Derbyshire bridge and bypass has been begrudgingly approved by councillors.

- By OSCAR FISHER

At a South Derbyshire District Council meeting on Tuesday night, councillors approved a further eight month extension for the completion of the £20million Walton bridge and bypass, which will now see it finished in August next year.

In the meantime, Countryside Partnerships, the developer behind the scheme, will be allowed to occupy additional houses past agreed limits on the former Drakelow Power Station site.

Councillors had agreed in February that the developer had a final inarguable deadline to complete the bridge and bypass by the end of December, but the meeting was told this agreement was never signed.

The former power station site includes 2,200 homes and there had been an original limit - set 20 years ago in 2005 - to occupy no more than 99 homes before the bypass and bridge were complete.

This was later extended to 400, then in February, 785, now this will be pushed to 800.