22 May 2025
Plans for an intrusive bridge over the railway line at the site of the controversial rail freight development in Park Street have been scrapped.
The project’s developers Segro applied for a non-material amendment to their original planning permission, replacing the approved tunnel with a storey-high bridge overlooking neighbouring Napsbury Park.
In a letter to SADC submitted as part of the amendment application, they argued that an alternative approach wasrequired because of a potential risk of flooding and “associated knock-on effects”.
Assistant planner Sana Miraj from RPS Consulting Services Ltd, acting on behalf of Segro, explained the reasoning behind the changes.
“As the detail design stage has progressed, site investigations have revealed the water table to be higher than previously expected, and the ground conditions permeable.”
It added that there was a risk of water collecting at the base of the underpass, creating a flood risk issue which risked the closure of the road and could significantly impact operations at the site.
The proposals prompted fury from members of the public, who asked why Segro did not carry out a full investigation of the site earlier.
But this week the company confirmed it had withdrawn the application.
A spokesperson said: “Segro has taken the decision to withdraw the non-material amendment to the planning application for the proposed road-over-rail bridge at Segro Logistics Park Radlett following the local planning authority’s view that the scope of the proposals exceeded what could be considered under the non-material amendment process.
“We engaged with St Albans district council both before and during the submission to understand their position and in response, we have decided to withdraw the application and are reconsidering our options.”
Should Segro decide to make a full planning application for the bridge, it will be considered by district councillors sitting on the planning committee, rather than by officers.
