This Instrument may be cited as the East Sussex County Council (Exceat Bridge Replacement – A259 Eastbourne Road) Bridge Scheme 2023 Confirmation Instrument 2025 and shall come into force on the date on which notice that it has been confirmed is first published in accordance with paragraph 1 of Schedule 2 to the Act.
The East Sussex County Council (Exceat Bridge Replacement – A259 Eastbourne Road) Bridge Scheme 2023 Confirmation Instrument 2025
Published: Thu 13th Nov 25
This Instrument, enacted by the Secretary of State for Transport, legally confirms, with modifications, the East Sussex County Council’s scheme to replace the existing Exceat Bridge located on the A259 Eastbourne Road over the Cuckmere River; the confirmation authorizes the construction of a new single-span bridge structure adhering to specified dimensions, waterway clearances, and access provisions, and the Instrument comes into force upon the publication of its confirmation notice.
Arguments For
Authorizes the necessary infrastructure upgrade to replace an aging bridge on the A259, ensuring continued safe passage for road traffic.
Addresses specific navigational requirements over the Cuckmere River by confirming minimum headway and maintained waterway width, balancing road and river needs.
Provides legal confirmation and detail for a scheme initiated by the local authority (East Sussex County Council), solidifying its execution under Highways Act powers.
Includes specific site plans and dimensions, ensuring clarity and proper execution of the engineering works, including provisions for a footway/cycleway.
Arguments Against
Changes to the original local authority scheme were made upon confirmation, potentially altering the intended scope or specifications issued by the Council.
The reliance on specific plan numbers and deposited documents requires external reference for a complete understanding of the physical works.
The inclusion of new viewing platforms and increased surfacing widths adds complexity and cost to the project beyond simple bridge replacement.
The terminology used, such as 'Above Ordnance Datum' and 'skew in structure', requires specialized knowledge for full interpretation of the construction requirements.
The Secretary of State for Transport, makes this Instrument in exercise of the powers conferred by section 106(3) of the Highways Act 19801 (“the Act”) and now vested in the Secretary of State2.
In accordance with section 107(1) and (2) of the Act, the Secretary of State has taken into consideration the reasonable requirements of navigation over the waters affected and includes such plans and specifications as necessary.
The Secretary of State for Transport issues this legal order using authority granted by Section 106(3) of the Highways Act 1980.
The Secretary of State confirms that when making this decision, they also considered the necessary needs for navigation on the Cuckmere River where the bridge is located, ensuring these requirements are met by including necessary plans and specifications.
1.
This Instrument is formally named the East Sussex County Council (Exceat Bridge Replacement – A259 Eastbourne Road) Bridge Scheme 2023 Confirmation Instrument 2025.
It legally takes effect on the first day that notice of its confirmation is publicly advertised according to the process outlined in Schedule 2 of the Highways Act.
2.
The East Sussex County Council (Exceat Bridge Replacement – A259 Eastbourne Road) Bridge Scheme 2023 (“the Scheme”) is hereby confirmed with modifications.
The specific project, referred to as 'the Scheme,' which was originated by East Sussex County Council for replacing the Exceat Bridge on the A259, is officially approved by this Instrument, although certain changes (modifications) have been introduced to the original Council submission.
3.
The Scheme as confirmed including its Schedules and plans are set out in the Schedule to this Instrument and copies of the Scheme with its accompanying plans are deposited at the offices of Department for Transport, Deposited Documents Service, MHCLG, 1 Priory Square, Priory Street, Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 1EA and at the office of East Sussex County Council, County Hall, St Anne’s Crescent, Lewes, East Sussex BN7 1UE.
The final, confirmed version of the Scheme, along with its attached schedules and detailed drawings, is detailed in the Schedule appended to this Instrument.
Physical copies of these documents are officially stored at the Department for Transport in Hastings and at the main offices of East Sussex County Council in Lewes for public record.
Signed by Authority of the Secretary of State
Samantha Collins-Hill
A Senior Civil Servant in the Department for Transport
7th October 2025
This section documents the official signing of the Instrument.
Samantha Collins-Hill, acting under the authority of the Secretary of State, signed the order as a Senior Civil Servant in the Department for Transport on October 7, 2025.
SCHEDULE
The East Sussex County Council (“the Council”) makes this scheme in exercise of their powers under section 106(3) of the Highways Act 1980 and all other powers enabling them in that behalf—
This is the Schedule referenced in Article 3, detailing the specifics of the scheme proposed by East Sussex County Council.
The Council asserts its authority to proceed with the scheme based on Section 106(3) of the Highways Act 1980 and any other relevant legal powers they possess.
1.
The Council are authorised to construct over the navigable waters of the Cuckmere River the bridge specified in the Schedule to this Scheme as part of the highway they are proposing to construct as a replacement for the Exceat Bridge carrying the A259 Eastbourne Road in the Parish of Cuckmere Valley & the Parish of Sutton with Seaford in the County of East Sussex.
The Council receives authorization to build the specified replacement bridge over the navigable part of the Cuckmere River.
This new bridge forms part of the wider highway improvement project for the A259 Eastbourne Road, located within the Parishes of Cuckmere Valley and Sutton with Seaford in East Sussex.
2.
This Scheme may be cited as “The East Sussex County Council (Exceat Bridge Replacement – A259 Eastbourne Road) Bridge Scheme 2023”.
CS | |
The Common Seal of | |
EAST SUSSEX COUNTY COUNCIL | |
was hereunto affixed in the presence of— | |
Attesting Officer | |
On the 3rd day of October 2023 |
Plans and Specification The East Sussex County Council (Exceat Bridge Replacement – A259 Eastbourne Road) Bridge Scheme 2023
The location and general design of the Bridge are shown on plans numbered 3520000-CH2-SBR-SY2-0129-DR-CB-1001, 3520000-CH2-SBR-0129-DR-CB-1002, 3520000-CH2-SBR-SY2-0129-DR-CB-1003 and annexed hereto marked “The East Sussex County Council (Exceat Bridge Replacement – A259 Eastbourne Road) Bridge Scheme 2023”
The Council formally names the scheme as 'The East Sussex County Council (Exceat Bridge Replacement – A259 Eastbourne Road) Bridge Scheme 2023' and verifies this through the affixing of their Common Seal on October 3, 2023, witnessed by an Attesting Officer.
The exact location and initial design are documented across three specific plans, which are annexed to this Scheme document.
POINTS OF COMMENCEMENT AND TERMINATION
Commencing from a point to the west of Cuckmere River 22 metres north of the middle of the existing A259 Eastbourne Road at the western commencement point of the existing bridge structure.
The bridge will pass in one span over the 26.3 metre wide Cuckmere River.
Terminating on the east side of the Cuckmere River at a point 17 metres to the north of the middle of the existing A259 Eastbourne Road at the eastern commencement point of the existing bridge structure.
The project starts 22 metres north of the central line of the current A259 road structure on the west side of the Cuckmere River.
The new structure will cross the river, which is 26.3 metres wide, in a single span.
The construction ends on the east side of the river, 17 metres north of the centre line of the existing A259 at the point where the old bridge structure finished.
SPAN
A one span structure of 30.3 metres.
The design calls for a single span bridge structure intended to be 30.3 metres in length.
HEADWAY AND WATERWAY
The Headway shall not be less than 2.27 metres above normal water level of 3.37 metres Above Ordnance Datum. This Headway shall be maintained at 100 per cent of the Cuckmere River width at normal water level. The waterway is retained at 26.3 metres. The proposed structure has a clear span of 30.3 metres to accommodate the skew in structure as it passes the river.
The minimum vertical clearance (Headway) above the normal river water level (defined as 3.37 metres Above Ordnance Datum) must be at least 2.27 metres.
This clearance must apply across the entire 26.3-metre width of the river (100% waterway).
The new bridge structure's 30.3-metre clear span is designed to account for the angled construction (skew) relative to the river's flow.
OVERALL DIMENSIONS
The Bridge will be 19.105 metres wide overall and will carry a 6.5 metre wide single carriageway bordered either side by hard surfacing of 2.275 metres in width on the south side of the bridge and 1.83 metres width on the north side. The carriageway and hard surfacing will be bounded by a 0.8 metre width wide girders on the north and south side. The northern girder will be bounded by a 1.5 metre width to accommodate a footway along the northern length of the bridge. The southern girder will be bound by a 3 metre width to accommodate a footpath/cycleway along the southern length of the bridge. In addition, a 2 metre width is included on the southern side, beyond the footway/cycleway, to accommodate a viewing platform over a 7 metre length. The bridge will be bounded by 1.2 metre high parapets on the north footpath and viewing platform and 1.5 metres high on the south footpath/cycleway.
The bridge will have an overall width of 19.105 metres.
It will carry a 6.5-metre single traffic lane, flanked by a 2.275-metre hard shoulder on the south and a 1.83-metre hard shoulder on the north.
Each side of this central area is bounded by 0.8-metre girders.
The north side includes a 1.5-metre footway adjacent to its girder, while the south side includes a 3-metre footpath/cycleway.
Furthermore, a 2-metre viewing platform, spanning 7 metres in length, is added on the south side beyond the cycleway.
Parapets will be 1.2 metres high along the north footway/platform and 1.5 metres high along the south footpath/cycleway.
Accompanying diagrams illustrate these dimensions.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Instrument)
This Instrument confirms a Scheme to construct a single span bridge structure over the navigable waters of the Cuckmere River as a replacement for the existing Exceat Bridge carrying the A259 Eastbourne Road in the Parish of Cuckmere Valley and the Parish of Sutton with Seaford in the County of East Sussex.
The Schedule to the Scheme, as published by East Sussex County Council, has been amended in the following manner—
1.
Under “POINTS OF COMMENCEMENT AND TERMINATION” at the end of the first paragraph the word “highway” is deleted and replace by “A259 Eastbourne Road at the western commencement point of the existing bridge structure”.
2.
Under the same heading in the third paragraph, the word highway is deleted and replaced by “A259 Eastbourne Road at the eastern commencement point of the existing bridge structure”.
3.
Under “HEADWAY AND WATERWAY” the wording “The waterway is retained at 26.3 metres. The proposed structure has a clear span of 30.3 metres to accommodate the skew in structure as it crosses the river” is added at the end of the paragraph.
This Explanatory Note, which does not have legal force, confirms that the Instrument approves the Council's plan to build a single-span bridge replacement for the old Exceat Bridge carrying the A259 over the Cuckmere River.
The note specifies required structural amendments made to the Council's original Schedule: first, the reference to the commencement point description following the river was changed from 'highway' to a precise reference to the A259 road structure; second, the termination point description was similarly updated.
Third, specific details regarding the maintained waterway width (26.3m) and the structure's 30.3m clear span accommodating river skew were formally added to the Headway and Waterway section.
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