Date set for Lincoln footbridge demolition

Scott’s Bridge on Melville Street in Lincoln will be demolished in mid-May, making way for a new hotel and residential development at the site of the former City Square Centre.

Permission was granted to demolish the bridge in the hotel’s original outline planning permission, as it posed as a barrier to development, both visually and logistically.

The bridge will be closed to the public from Monday 5^th May, enabling preparation work to take place, including erecting extensive scaffolding. Demolition operations will then complete over the weekend of Friday 16^th, through to 6am on Monday 19^th May.

To ensure a safe demolition, road and footpath closures will be in place on Broadgate and Melville Street from 7pm on Friday 16^th May, until 6am on Monday 19^th May, as agreed by Lincolnshire County Council and facilitated by Highway Traffic Management.

Local businesses Eddisons and UDCS Demolition are working towards the demolition and site clearance on behalf of Lincolnshire Co-op, and have been consulting with City of Lincoln Council, Stagecoach and PC Coaches to ensure that public transport continues to run.

Nearby multi-storey car parks, including Broadgate Car Park and Lincoln Central Car Park, will also remain open during the works.

Local businesses impacted by road closures will be advised and supported by UDCS, keeping disruption to trade to a minimum.

UDCS Ltd, a Lincoln based demolition company, removed approximately 8,100 tonnes of concrete and brick rubble and 350 tonnes of mixed metals from the City Square Centre site during its demolition, and 99.6% of all demolition materials were recycled.

All concrete and brick rubble was repurposed within Lincolnshire, providing essential materials for new road and site infrastructure.

In preparation of the bridge’s demolition, UDCS will be erecting scaffolding on the bridge itself, and around the Longhurst buildings adjacent to the bridge.

UDCS Demolition Director, Matthew Browne, said: “We look forward to contributing to the ongoing regeneration of Lincoln's Cornhill Quarter and are committed to executing this project with the utmost attention to safety, efficiency, and community consideration.”

Lincolnshire Co-op has outline planning permission for a hotel on part of the former City Square Centre site and is in advanced negotiations with an international hotel developer and operator. The larger remaining area, earmarked for residential uses, has already attracted interest from several developers.

Kevin Kendall, Head of Property at Lincolnshire Co-op, said: “We’re pleased with how the project continues to progress, and look forward to bringing new services to the local area, which will support tourism in Lincoln and create more housing.

“Thank you to Eddisons and UDCS Demolition, who have done a fantastic job at managing the demolition and minimising disruption. I’m confident that this will continue as we embark onto this next phase.”