Replacing Sappers Bridge: Connecting Communities in Snowdonia

Replacing Sappers Bridge: Connecting Communities in Snowdonia

Replacing Sappers Bridge: Connecting Communities in Snowdonia
10 November 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.

12 June 2026
On behalf of Cheshire East Council, TEP has secured consent for the expansion of the Environmental Services Hub site. The expansion will facilitate a weekly food waste collection service for every property in the borough, helping Cheshire East Council prepare for a new statutory requirement from central government due to come into force from 2026-2027. To achieve this, we prepared and managed three planning applications: A full application for 84 new employee parking spaces, a bin storage area and a security lodge; A non-material amendment application for the reconfiguration of the existing site layout; and A variation of condition application to increase the limit on vehicle movements. The project began with a pre-application advice request, followed by discussions with the local planning authority to confirm the applications and supporting information required for submission. A key element of the project was the preparation of a planning needs case. This justified the development remaining at the Environmental Services Hub site, rather than a 'preferred site' identified within the council's Waste Plan. The case also identified the benefits of increasing recycling rates and supporting sustainable waste management across the borough. To support the applications, traffic surveys were commissioned and a Transport Statement was prepared, demonstrating that the proposals would have no negative impact on the local highway network. A Transport Note was also produced to establish the number of vehicle movements that should be permitted through the variation of condition application. Air quality and noise assessments were also undertaken to demonstrate that impacts would be limited and acceptable. 
10 June 2026
Plans for Brookleigh Primary School have received unanimous planning approval at Mid Sussex District Council's District Planning Committee on 28th May 2026. The new school, located to the east of Isaacs Lane, will provide 420 student places, alongside a 52-place nursery and a 16-place Special Support Centre. As a two-form entry school, it will support two classes per year group. This marks a proud first for Homes England as master developer, directly delivering new school places for the Brookleigh community. TEP worked in partnership with the wider project team, including CampbellReith, sixfootstudio, Fabrik, FLOH and Stace, to help bring the proposals forward. Supporting the Delivery of a New School TEP's Planning team co-ordinated the preparation of the reserved matters application, including pre-application discussions and community consultation, while our Ecology team completed site surveys and advised on Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG). A key part of our role was ensuring that local people and stakeholders had opportunities to engage with the proposals as they developed. In preparation for the application submission, we organised public consultation events and prepared consultation materials explaining the scheme, masterplan, access strategy, landscaping, and the proposed layout and appearance of the school. Two public exhibitions were held at an accessible venue close to the site, providing an opportunity for the local community to discuss the proposals, ask questions and share feedback. We also organised an information leaflet drop to approximately 4,000 homes and established an online consultation portal to enable people to engage digitally. The feedback received was largely positive, reflecting both the demand for new school places and the work undertaken by the project team to develop a modern, sustainable design for the Brookleigh community.
27 May 2026
We have been proud to support the regeneration of the Grade II Listed Earlestown Town Hall, one of the most historically and visually significant buildings in the town centre. Dating from the late 19th century, the Flemish-inspired civic building occupies a commanding position within Earlestown and has long served as a local landmark and community venue. Over the years, the Town Hall has played host to generations of local events and performances, including an appearance by The Beatles during the early years of their rise to fame. Commissioned by ECF, we provided heritage and archaeology consultancy services to support the redevelopment and restoration of the building as part of wider regeneration ambitions for Earlestown town centre. Working as part of a multidisciplinary team, we offered heritage advice throughout the pre-application stage, helping to shape proposals that would be sympathetic to the building’s historic character while enabling it to meet modern community needs.
12 June 2026
On behalf of Cheshire East Council, TEP has secured consent for the expansion of the Environmental Services Hub site. The expansion will facilitate a weekly food waste collection service for every property in the borough, helping Cheshire East Council prepare for a new statutory requirement from central government due to come into force from 2026-2027. To achieve this, we prepared and managed three planning applications: A full application for 84 new employee parking spaces, a bin storage area and a security lodge; A non-material amendment application for the reconfiguration of the existing site layout; and A variation of condition application to increase the limit on vehicle movements. The project began with a pre-application advice request, followed by discussions with the local planning authority to confirm the applications and supporting information required for submission. A key element of the project was the preparation of a planning needs case. This justified the development remaining at the Environmental Services Hub site, rather than a 'preferred site' identified within the council's Waste Plan. The case also identified the benefits of increasing recycling rates and supporting sustainable waste management across the borough. To support the applications, traffic surveys were commissioned and a Transport Statement was prepared, demonstrating that the proposals would have no negative impact on the local highway network. A Transport Note was also produced to establish the number of vehicle movements that should be permitted through the variation of condition application. Air quality and noise assessments were also undertaken to demonstrate that impacts would be limited and acceptable. 
10 June 2026
Plans for Brookleigh Primary School have received unanimous planning approval at Mid Sussex District Council's District Planning Committee on 28th May 2026. The new school, located to the east of Isaacs Lane, will provide 420 student places, alongside a 52-place nursery and a 16-place Special Support Centre. As a two-form entry school, it will support two classes per year group. This marks a proud first for Homes England as master developer, directly delivering new school places for the Brookleigh community. TEP worked in partnership with the wider project team, including CampbellReith, sixfootstudio, Fabrik, FLOH and Stace, to help bring the proposals forward. Supporting the Delivery of a New School TEP's Planning team co-ordinated the preparation of the reserved matters application, including pre-application discussions and community consultation, while our Ecology team completed site surveys and advised on Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG). A key part of our role was ensuring that local people and stakeholders had opportunities to engage with the proposals as they developed. In preparation for the application submission, we organised public consultation events and prepared consultation materials explaining the scheme, masterplan, access strategy, landscaping, and the proposed layout and appearance of the school. Two public exhibitions were held at an accessible venue close to the site, providing an opportunity for the local community to discuss the proposals, ask questions and share feedback. We also organised an information leaflet drop to approximately 4,000 homes and established an online consultation portal to enable people to engage digitally. The feedback received was largely positive, reflecting both the demand for new school places and the work undertaken by the project team to develop a modern, sustainable design for the Brookleigh community.
12 June 2026
On behalf of Cheshire East Council, TEP has secured consent for the expansion of the Environmental Services Hub site. The expansion will facilitate a weekly food waste collection service for every property in the borough, helping Cheshire East Council prepare for a new statutory requirement from central government due to come into force from 2026-2027. To achieve this, we prepared and managed three planning applications: A full application for 84 new employee parking spaces, a bin storage area and a security lodge; A non-material amendment application for the reconfiguration of the existing site layout; and A variation of condition application to increase the limit on vehicle movements. The project began with a pre-application advice request, followed by discussions with the local planning authority to confirm the applications and supporting information required for submission. A key element of the project was the preparation of a planning needs case. This justified the development remaining at the Environmental Services Hub site, rather than a 'preferred site' identified within the council's Waste Plan. The case also identified the benefits of increasing recycling rates and supporting sustainable waste management across the borough. To support the applications, traffic surveys were commissioned and a Transport Statement was prepared, demonstrating that the proposals would have no negative impact on the local highway network. A Transport Note was also produced to establish the number of vehicle movements that should be permitted through the variation of condition application. Air quality and noise assessments were also undertaken to demonstrate that impacts would be limited and acceptable. 
10 June 2026
Plans for Brookleigh Primary School have received unanimous planning approval at Mid Sussex District Council's District Planning Committee on 28th May 2026. The new school, located to the east of Isaacs Lane, will provide 420 student places, alongside a 52-place nursery and a 16-place Special Support Centre. As a two-form entry school, it will support two classes per year group. This marks a proud first for Homes England as master developer, directly delivering new school places for the Brookleigh community. TEP worked in partnership with the wider project team, including CampbellReith, sixfootstudio, Fabrik, FLOH and Stace, to help bring the proposals forward. Supporting the Delivery of a New School TEP's Planning team co-ordinated the preparation of the reserved matters application, including pre-application discussions and community consultation, while our Ecology team completed site surveys and advised on Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG). A key part of our role was ensuring that local people and stakeholders had opportunities to engage with the proposals as they developed. In preparation for the application submission, we organised public consultation events and prepared consultation materials explaining the scheme, masterplan, access strategy, landscaping, and the proposed layout and appearance of the school. Two public exhibitions were held at an accessible venue close to the site, providing an opportunity for the local community to discuss the proposals, ask questions and share feedback. We also organised an information leaflet drop to approximately 4,000 homes and established an online consultation portal to enable people to engage digitally. The feedback received was largely positive, reflecting both the demand for new school places and the work undertaken by the project team to develop a modern, sustainable design for the Brookleigh community.
27 May 2026
We have been proud to support the regeneration of the Grade II Listed Earlestown Town Hall, one of the most historically and visually significant buildings in the town centre. Dating from the late 19th century, the Flemish-inspired civic building occupies a commanding position within Earlestown and has long served as a local landmark and community venue. Over the years, the Town Hall has played host to generations of local events and performances, including an appearance by The Beatles during the early years of their rise to fame. Commissioned by ECF, we provided heritage and archaeology consultancy services to support the redevelopment and restoration of the building as part of wider regeneration ambitions for Earlestown town centre. Working as part of a multidisciplinary team, we offered heritage advice throughout the pre-application stage, helping to shape proposals that would be sympathetic to the building’s historic character while enabling it to meet modern community needs.