Replacing Sappers Bridge: Connecting Communities in Snowdonia

Replacing Sappers Bridge: Connecting Communities in Snowdonia

Replacing Sappers Bridge: Connecting Communities in Snowdonia
November 10, 2025

We have secured planning permission for Conwy County Borough Council to replace the footbridge across the River Conwy in Betws-y-Coed and upgrade the surrounding public right of way. The site sits within the stunning Eryri National Park in Snowdonia and is adjacent to the Betws-y-Coed Conservation Area, so careful planning and design were essential.

The existing footbridge had been closed due to safety concerns and needed replacing to restore the active travel link. With funding secured by Conwy Council to improve active travel, this project forms part of a wider investment in the Coast to Valley Active Travel Route. We issued an EIA Screening Opinion, and the Local Planning Authority confirmed that no full Environmental Impact Assessment was required. We also prepared a robust planning case to justify development within a National Park, highlighting the benefits of improving active travel, reducing reliance on cars, and promoting local tourism.

Heritage and landscape were key considerations. A heritage assessment was undertaken which confirmed there would be no harm to the adjacent conservation area or nearby listed building, while a landscape assessment demonstrated that the development would not negatively impact the surrounding environment. Impacts on trees were carefully reviewed. We advised on mitigation measures to minimise tree loss and on the number of replacement trees required under planning policy.

Given the ecological sensitivity of the site, our Ecology team carried out surveys for bats, water voles, otters, great crested newts, barn owls, invasive species, and hedgerows. We advised on the design and proposed mitigation measures to ensure the development met planning requirements. We also prepared a Green Infrastructure Statement to demonstrate that a net benefit for biodiversity has been achieved, in line with Welsh planning policy. Our Landscape Design team developed a detailed planting plan along the active travel route to replace lost vegetation and comply with policy requirements.

During the planning process, we responded to and addressed concerns raised by Natural Resources Wales, including the impact of proposed lighting on bats and the local landscape character. The application was approved in March 2025 and construction is now underway. We’re looking forward to seeing the new bridge reconnect the community, support sustainable travel, and enhance this beautiful part of Snowdonia.

October 30, 2026
Built in 1873 as part of the former Whittingham Asylum, the Grade II listed Church of St John has stood within the Whittingham landscape for more than 150 years. Designed by Manchester architect Henry Littler, the church remained in use until the hospital closed in 1995. Today, its significance lies not only in its architecture and historic associations, but in the surviving details that tell the story of the building, from stencilled decoration and high-quality timberwork to its distinctive cast-iron columns. To help inform the church’s future management, TEP’s Historic Environment and Archaeology team was commissioned to prepare a Conservation Management Plan (CMP) for Homes England. The work began with understanding what makes the building significant. An onsite appraisal and condition review were combined with an assessment of its heritage significance, including the contribution made by its setting. This allowed the team to identify important surviving features and consider the issues affecting the building before translating that evidence into practical principles for its ongoing management. 
October 13, 2026
Growing People CIC at Lanjeth Nursery received a TEP Environment Grant to help improve access to the organisation's restored pond habitats in Cornwall.
October 6, 2026
TEP's Environment Grant was established to support projects that inspire environmental learning, raise awareness of environmental issues and encourage positive action. Since launching in 2020, the grant has supported 17 projects across the UK, helping individuals, community groups and organisations bring environmental ideas to life. Now in its seventh year, the grant received a record 102 applications from across the UK. Following a detailed review process, funding has been awarded to two projects that stood out for their innovative approaches to community engagement, environmental awareness and learning.
October 30, 2026
Built in 1873 as part of the former Whittingham Asylum, the Grade II listed Church of St John has stood within the Whittingham landscape for more than 150 years. Designed by Manchester architect Henry Littler, the church remained in use until the hospital closed in 1995. Today, its significance lies not only in its architecture and historic associations, but in the surviving details that tell the story of the building, from stencilled decoration and high-quality timberwork to its distinctive cast-iron columns. To help inform the church’s future management, TEP’s Historic Environment and Archaeology team was commissioned to prepare a Conservation Management Plan (CMP) for Homes England. The work began with understanding what makes the building significant. An onsite appraisal and condition review were combined with an assessment of its heritage significance, including the contribution made by its setting. This allowed the team to identify important surviving features and consider the issues affecting the building before translating that evidence into practical principles for its ongoing management. 
October 13, 2026
Growing People CIC at Lanjeth Nursery received a TEP Environment Grant to help improve access to the organisation's restored pond habitats in Cornwall.
October 30, 2026
Built in 1873 as part of the former Whittingham Asylum, the Grade II listed Church of St John has stood within the Whittingham landscape for more than 150 years. Designed by Manchester architect Henry Littler, the church remained in use until the hospital closed in 1995. Today, its significance lies not only in its architecture and historic associations, but in the surviving details that tell the story of the building, from stencilled decoration and high-quality timberwork to its distinctive cast-iron columns. To help inform the church’s future management, TEP’s Historic Environment and Archaeology team was commissioned to prepare a Conservation Management Plan (CMP) for Homes England. The work began with understanding what makes the building significant. An onsite appraisal and condition review were combined with an assessment of its heritage significance, including the contribution made by its setting. This allowed the team to identify important surviving features and consider the issues affecting the building before translating that evidence into practical principles for its ongoing management. 
October 13, 2026
Growing People CIC at Lanjeth Nursery received a TEP Environment Grant to help improve access to the organisation's restored pond habitats in Cornwall.
October 6, 2026
TEP's Environment Grant was established to support projects that inspire environmental learning, raise awareness of environmental issues and encourage positive action. Since launching in 2020, the grant has supported 17 projects across the UK, helping individuals, community groups and organisations bring environmental ideas to life. Now in its seventh year, the grant received a record 102 applications from across the UK. Following a detailed review process, funding has been awarded to two projects that stood out for their innovative approaches to community engagement, environmental awareness and learning.