Planning Inspectorate decision over Congham Bridge

In October West Norfolk Council ordered the agency to remove material it had placed under Congham Bridge, on the former King's Lynn to Fakenham railway line.

It said it had "obliterated" part of Norfolk's railway history by infilling the 1920s structure.

An aerial view of the former railway bridge at Congham (Image: HRE Group)

But the agency appealed, saying it had carried out the work under permitted development powers to make the bridge safe to carry traffic.

READ MORE: Row over 'infill' of historic railway bridge

Government planning inspector Laura Renaudon has now published her ruling after hearing from both sides, along with the Historic Rail Estate Group, at a five-day public inquiry in May.

Government planning inspector Laura Renaudon (Image: Chris Bishop)

Today, government planning inspector Laura Renaudon published her ruling after hearing from both sides, along with the Historic Rail Estate Group, at a five-day public enquiry.

She described the case as “finely balanced”, adding: "The harm to the value of the heritage asset is regrettable but needs to be balanced against the asset’s overall low significance, the fact that the bridge is preserved, albeit buried, and the other factors in the case.

"Accordingly I find that the development complies with the development plan for the area."

Graeme Bickerdike from the Historical Rail Estate Group (Image: Chris Bishop)

Graeme Bickerdike from the Historical Rail Estate Group said: “We’re obviously disappointed that the infill is to remain.

"This was an unnecessary and destructive scheme that has resulted in the loss of a noteworthy heritage asset of regional significance."

Earlier West Norfolk Council's lawyer Tim Leader told the inquiry the bridge had been "illegally almost totally destroyed" by the work.

The former railway bridge at Congham (Image: Richard Humphrey)

But National Highways' barrister Martin Carter said the bridge had been filled in because it was in a "very poor condition" and had become unsafe.

A PIECE OF RAILWAY HISTORY

Congham Bridge is one of just six which were built in the 1920s using Midland and Great Northern Railway engineer William Marriott's designs - featuring unique curved wingwalls.

The railway route connected South Lynn with Fakenham before continuing on to Great Yarmouth.

A picture of the bridge in its heyday (Image: M&GN Trust)

But in 1959, it was decided that the Lynn to Fakenham line should be closed.

The bridge had remained in use, carrying a quiet country road, St Andrews Lane, across the now-abandoned track.

But a century after it was opened, it had become corroded and began to develop fractures.

The bridge after it was filled in (Image: HRE Group)

This led National Highways to fill it in with concrete.