PLANS to carry out a programme of repairs to historic Sankey Viaduct have been given the final green light by planners.

Warrington Borough Council has now also approved restoration work for the Grade I-listed railway viaduct commonly known as Nine Arches.

Among the work planned by applicant Network Rail is the removal of vegetation and erasing of graffiti, as well as calcite removal and the redecoration of iron grilles.

Missing or broken grilles are to be replaced on a like for like basis, while teams will also carry out crack stitch repairs and brick replacement where required.

A heritage statement was prepared to accompany the application for listed building consent for the site, which spans the jurisdictions of both Warrington and St Helens borough councils.

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The St Helens planning authority gave the works the nod earlier this month.

The heritage statement said that the proposed works have the potential to ‘directly impact the significance of the Grade I-listed viaduct through physical change’.

The viaduct is located to the west of Newton-le-Willows and carries the Liverpool-Manchester railway over the Sankey Brook via the span of nine arches.

The heritage statement says Network Rail seek to carry out repairs both to the ‘original fabric and to later fabric inserted as part of previous remedial repairs’.

A structural assessment report identified a ‘large number of individual, but consistent defects across the structure’, with recommendations for repair based on priority.

The heritage statement adds: “The existing state of the viaduct, which displays extensive spalling stone and brickwork, fractures, graffiti, vegetation growth and general decay, impacts negatively upon its significance.

“Proposals present a programme of works designed to arrest the decay and deterioration of Grade I listed structure.

“Such works offer clear benefits in conserving the structure and retaining it within its intended original use.

“In addition, the proposed repairs would have a positive impact on the appearance of the viaduct and would sustain the key features of its significance.”