The state secretary for transport, Mark Harper, has given his approval to the plan to refurbish the abandoned Portishead to Bristol line in the United Kingdom. North Somerset Council forwarded this planning application to The Planning Inspectorate for review in November 2019. A month later, it was accepted for examination, with the Planning Inspectorate recommending approval in July of last year.
The Portishead track closed in 1964. The cost of restoring the track was initially estimated to be £116.4 million. However, the project’s cost rose to £152 million, leaving a £35.6 million funding gap.
The West of England Combined Authority and North Somerset Council contributed £10 million each. The Department of Transport raised the remaining £15.6 million.
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Project cost for the Portishead to Bristol line
Delays in the approval of the Development Consent Order (DCo) caused the project’s costs to rise. The global rise in energy, labour, and construction material costs also increased the project’s costs. The Portishead to Bristol line, is part of the MetroWest Phase 1 project. Consequently, it is expected to reopen in 2026.
“The Planning Inspectorate has now examined more than 100 nationally major infrastructure projects since the Planning Act 2008 process was introduced, making sure local communities, the local authority, and other interested parties have had the opportunity to be involved in the examination of projects that may affect them,” said interim CEO Navees Rahman.
“Before making its recommendation to the Secretary of State, the Examining Authority listened to and fully considered all local views and evidence gathered during the Examination.”
