Press releases

EEDA today announces grant funding for the Landscape East: Bridge of Reeds project – an exciting initiative to deliver an iconic landmark for the East of England and access to thousands of hectares of newly restored natural fenland. Today’s announcement also includes news of the proposed site for the Lost Town project (formerly Dunwich).

The Landscape East: Bridge of Reeds project near Cambridge was one of four projects awarded funding by EEDA for feasibility studies following the Landmark East international ideas competition in March 2004. The competition attracted 234 ideas for a landmark to put the region on the map, both nationally and internationally.

Inspired by the wide skies, reeds and water that define the regional landscape, the 177ft Bridge of Reeds will span the A14 trunk road just east of Cambridge. The hi-tech steel bridge will link the city to an extensive new network of footpaths and cycleways that will be part of a major expansion of the National Trust nature reserve at Wicken Fen.

The Bridge of Reeds project is led by a partnership comprising the National Trust, Greater Cambridge Partnership and Marshall of Cambridge. The Bridge of Reeds concept was created by LDA Design, the lead designers.

EEDA’s grant funding of £250,000 will enable the team to take the essential first steps towards project delivery including recruitment of a project director, development of bids for specific funding sources and the formation of a consultation plan. The funding will also contribute to the cost of vital repairs and resurfacing work on the cycle routes.

Philip Broadbent-Yale of the National Trust said:
“Early stage funding for the project is a big challenge so we are delighted to have EEDA’s continued support. It gives us a fantastic start and will help us lay the foundations for the delivery of the project. As a team we are committed to pursuing what we consider to be an exciting vision that could deliver something of real benefit to residents and visitors alike. With substantial growth planned for the Cambridge area over the next ten years, it is important to preserve our green spaces and natural habitats – Landscape East could play a key role in this.”

David Marlow, chief executive, EEDA added:
“The design of the Bridge of Reeds breaks new ground, reflecting our region’s commitment to ideas and innovation while evoking some of our most distinctive natural features including water, reeds and wildlife. It will be a true landmark – an icon to be proud of and one that I hope will come to symbolise the identity of the East of England in years to come. Furthermore, its potential to provide easy access on foot or by cycle to thousands of hectares of rich natural habitat should bring invaluable benefits and great enjoyment to future generations.”

Our flat landscape is sometimes maligned but it is what makes the East of England perfect for exploring on a bicycle – the Landscape East project team hopes to create up to 16 miles of cycle track up to Wicken Fen and it could be a timely catalyst for further development of cycle routes throughout the region.”

The three other projects that received funding from EEDA for feasibility studies are also progressing as follows:

• Lost Town – this project had originally been proposed to represent the lost churches of Dunwich on the Suffolk coast. But the feasibility study concluded that although the sculptures were technically viable, environmental designations and accessibility meant that the project could not be delivered at there. However, widespread admiration for the concept inspired the team to explore alternative locations for a single offshore sculpture to symbolise the impact of coastal erosion on local communities. A proposal is now being considered to locate the project at Walton-on-the-Naze on the north-east Essex coast. It would form a poignant symbol to commemorate the Church of All Saints, which was lost to the sea in the late 18th century. Walton-on-the-Naze is still suffering heavily from coastal erosion and local groups are pursuing plans for a coastal protection scheme on the Naze. The team is currently consulting with local residents and stakeholders.
  
• East Reef – the feasibility study that focused on the Landmark Promenade has concluded that this proposal is technically feasible in the location of Jaywick Sands, an area which is part of masterplan proposals currently being developed. The landmark could be a powerful symbol of positive change and is envisaged to inspire sympathetic development on and around the beach and waterfront including the East Reef Dive Centre and a tidal Lido, which have also been considered as part of the study. The promenade – a 21st century pier – would be a striking landmark providing views out to sea and back over the town and surrounding area. The Dive Centre – the UK’s first premium quality, custom-built dive and aquarium experience would provide a hyper-real temperate, underwater landscape teeming with fantastic creatures. The East Reef proposal has the potential to not only become an amenity and source of local pride, but to also invigorate Jaywick as a coastal destination, once known as ‘one of the happiest resorts on the Essex coast’. The proposals are subject to consultation with residents over the next few months and the East Reef team is currently in discussion with the master planners of Jaywick to explore the possibility of embedding the project into the wider plans for the area.
  
• Watermarking – the feasibility study established that the dragonfly bridge – an innovative movable bridge with integral performance venue – was technically feasible. The bridge offers the potential for ‘ownership’ by one town or city but also the ability to move along the region’s waterways.  Following the positive outcome of the feasibility study, the team is currently developing a business plan geared towards progressing the concept at a number of locations where interest was expressed during the feasibility study – these include towns such as Bedford, Ipswich and Peterborough.

David Marlow continued:
“We are delighted that all four projects are continuing to make progress. Each faces a different set of issues that are reflected in the varying rates of progress. Because the projects are so diverse, they could bring wide-ranging potential benefits including educational, cultural and artistic enrichment, new leisure opportunities for local people and high quality visitor attractions that will bring valuable tourism into the region. We are working with each team to help them progress by introducing them to stakeholders and raising awareness. We very much hope that people will tell us what they think about them via our website at www.landmarkeast.org.uk.”

For further information about Landmark East and to comment on the four projects please go to: www.landmarkeast.org.uk

Ends

Further information:
Theresa Prevost tel: 07771 620783  / 01223 710965
Marcie Bell / Kate Blood, EEDA, tel 01223 713900.

Notes to editors:

1. The East of England Development Agency is responsible for the economic development of the six counties: Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk.

2. Landmark East is a project led by EEDA to create a major landmark (or series of landmarks) to put the East of England on the map – both nationally and internationally. The project evolved from the Landmark East international ideas competition that launched in October 2003. A shortlist of 12 projects was whittled down to four winners who received funding from EEDA in 2004 for feasibility studies. EEDA’s role is as a facilitator, helping the teams with introductions to stakeholders, awareness-raising and acting as an advocate for the projects.

3. The Landscape East: Bridge of Reeds team worked with LDA Design who devised the design of the bridge and Mott MacDonald who conducted the feasibility study in conjunction with Alan Baxter Associates.

4. Award-winning German architects Anne Niemann and Johannes Ingrisch are the young design partnership behind Lost Town. They developed the project in conjunction with Arup, Davis Langdon, ABL and Shorthose Russell.

5. East Reef’s designers Eleanor Rennie and Agnieszka Glowacka trained at University College London’s Bartlett School of Architecture where they both won awards. They worked alongside Arup, Expedition Engineering, Savant International and Aquality.

6. The Watermarking project team includes Urban Initiatives (2003 Planning Consultancy of the Year), award-winning Glenn Howells Architects and Martin Stockley Associates – a team that has worked on many high profile projects.

7. The National Trust is a charity completely independent of Government and reliant for income on membership fees, donations and legacies, and revenue raised from commercial operations. The Trust now has 3.4 million members and 43,000 volunteers. More than 12 million people visited its pay for entry properties in 2004, while an estimated 50 million visited its open spaces. They protect and open to the public over 300 historic houses and gardens and 49 industrial monuments and mills. The Trust also look after forests, woods, fens, beaches, farmland, downs, moorland, islands, archaeological remains, castles, nature reserves, villages - for ever, for everyone.

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