Background
Hale Wharf is separated from Tottenham Hale’s commercial centre and transport links by various obstacles, all of which run along a north-south axis:
- the Lee Valley Navigation canal
- Pymmes Brook watercourse
- a narrow section of the Lee Valley Park
- Mill Mead Road.
Any bridge at Hale Wharf must cross two water-courses separated by a narrow strip of land, create access into Lee Valley park and link up with the crossing over Mill Mead Road.
Haringey council had commissioned a masterplan to guide regeneration in the area, including setting a framework for accessible developments on Hale Wharf. One of its key features was a new east-west route, Ashley Link, only possible with a bridge at Hale Wharf.
British Waterways submitted a bid for growth area funding (GAF II) before the masterplan was adopted. The bid was based on a preliminary design for a bridge at the north end of Hale Wharf, following an accessibility study and stakeholder consultations.
This meant that growth area funding was secured for a bridge further north than required by the masterplan.
