New Pooley Bridge

Pooley Bridge (town) is the North-Eastern gate into the Lake District National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a uniquely beautiful landscape. The original Pooley Bridge was a Grade II listed 3-span stone arch, built in 1764, which served as a critical link in the daily life of the area. The shock after its abrupt removal in the floods of December 2015 was partially relieved by the installation of a temporary Bailey Bridge three months later, but its ongoing presence was also 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 the normality of the village after five years. The new structure has been carefully designed following an intense stakeholder engagement process, listening to the community and focusing on their common aspirations to achieve a design that fits with their sense of identity and satisfies the technical standards.

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.