Plans to transform a historic A-listed bridge over the Water of Leith into an open pedestrian space have been greenlit by city planners.
Forth Ports has been awarded listed building consent for a full repair and renovation of the Victoria Swing Bridge courtesy of a ‘private six-figure investment’.
The Alexander Rendel-designed infrastructure, opened in 1874 to link the Albert and Victoria Docks, closed to traffic in the 1990s having previously provided access to the port via road and rail.
It is now set to be reimagined as a pedestrian walk and cycleway with a complete refit of the central decking area.
Work - which is also set to include a replacement of the decked turning circle areas and repairs to the historic metal design - is expected to get underway next year.
City of Edinburgh Council planners gave their backing to proposals outlined by the group in September earlier this week.
Forth Ports chief Charles Hammond said: “We are extremely pleased to have been granted consent to begin this programme of major repairs to The Victoria Swing Bridge which is an important landmark in Leith and will make an important contribution to the regeneration of the waterfront.
"We want to deliver a useable space for the local community and we hope that once the bridge has been restored, people will be able to enjoy this space.”
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Pedestrian access will be maintained throughout the duration of the work thanks to initial refurbishments on the North and South walkways.
The bridge, which initially carried a double rail track along its central deck, reopened to the public in 2000 after the restoration of timber decking on each side..
It remains the largest counterweighted bridge in Scotland and was upgraded from category B listing to category A in 2014.
