Visitors to Tintagel Castle on the north Cornwall coast will soon need a head for heights after a dramatic new footbridge won a design competition last week.

 

The winning design by engineering consultant Ney & Partners and architect William Matthews Associates will provide improved access to the remains of the 13th Century settlement near Boscastle.

 

With a span of 72m the new bridge will follow an original land link between the mainland and the island on which Tintagel Castle stands. It will cross the void between the rock outcrops 28m higher than a current wooden bridge, which is accessed by a long flight of steps.

 

Installation of the new bridge is designed to accommodate a projected increase in visitor numbers to 250,000 a year. The old bridge will remain in place. The £4M project is being led by English Heritage.

 

The charity’s chief executive Kate Mavor said: “The winning team’s concept is daring and very exciting.  It is not the final design but instead a brilliant indication of the team’s talent and imagination. We will now work with them on a design that will both complement the spectacular landscape and unlock for the visitor the history of the site.”

 

The winning team of Ney & Partners and William Matthews Associates beat off competition from five other shortlisted entries, drawn from 137 expressions of interest. The competition was organised by Malcolm Reading Consultants.

 

Chair of the judging panel Graham Morrison said of the winning entry: “This is a strong and confident concept design with a thoughtful geometry.”

 

English Heritage will now work with the winning team on the final design which will be subject to a number of consents and approvals, including planning permission and Scheduled Ancient Monument Consent. The bridge is planned for completion in 2019.

 

Photo: MRC/Emily Whitfield-Wicks and Ney & Partners