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| Shortlisted designs for London's new pedestrian and cycle bridge unveiled | Shortlisted designs for London's new pedestrian and cycle bridge unveiled |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| Four shortlisted designs have been unveiled for another new bridge across the Thames in London – thought to be the first in a major city centre to incorporate the needs of pedestrians and cyclists. | Four shortlisted designs have been unveiled for another new bridge across the Thames in London – thought to be the first in a major city centre to incorporate the needs of pedestrians and cyclists. |
| The proposals for the bridge, which will link Pimlico and Nine Elms in south-west London, were shortlisted from 74 entries in March in a competition run by Wandsworth council. | The proposals for the bridge, which will link Pimlico and Nine Elms in south-west London, were shortlisted from 74 entries in March in a competition run by Wandsworth council. |
| It was stipulated as part of the design requirements that the bridge had to be high enough to allow large boats to pass below, but not too steep for pedestrians and cyclists to climb. It must also enable movement by cyclists and pedestrians in both directions at peak times. | It was stipulated as part of the design requirements that the bridge had to be high enough to allow large boats to pass below, but not too steep for pedestrians and cyclists to climb. It must also enable movement by cyclists and pedestrians in both directions at peak times. |
| The teams in the running are BuroHappold, Bystrup Architecture Design Engineering and Ove Arup & Partners, which has two shortlisted designs. Their final proposals include spiralling staircases and snake-like ramps, which will link the bridge to the riverbank. | The teams in the running are BuroHappold, Bystrup Architecture Design Engineering and Ove Arup & Partners, which has two shortlisted designs. Their final proposals include spiralling staircases and snake-like ramps, which will link the bridge to the riverbank. |
| Related: Battersea is part of a huge building project – but not for Londoners | Related: Battersea is part of a huge building project – but not for Londoners |
| It is hoped the crossing will support growth in Nine Elms, where new homes and businesses are being created to transform the previously industrial area. | It is hoped the crossing will support growth in Nine Elms, where new homes and businesses are being created to transform the previously industrial area. |
| Ravi Govindia, the leader of Wandsworth council, said: “We now have some very exciting and quite spectacular designs on the table. There is still a long way to go, but these teams have given us real hope that a solution can be found to the complex challenges involved in creating a new pedestrian and cycle link across this stretch of the river.” | Ravi Govindia, the leader of Wandsworth council, said: “We now have some very exciting and quite spectacular designs on the table. There is still a long way to go, but these teams have given us real hope that a solution can be found to the complex challenges involved in creating a new pedestrian and cycle link across this stretch of the river.” |
| Londoners have been invited to comment on the designs and feedback will be considered by the competition panel before a winner is named later this year. | Londoners have been invited to comment on the designs and feedback will be considered by the competition panel before a winner is named later this year. |
| However, the bridge does not have the support of all local residents. Westminster’s Labour and Conservative parties have previously expressed opposition to Wandsworth’s plans, claiming the bridge would destroy one of the few green spaces left on the riverside. | However, the bridge does not have the support of all local residents. Westminster’s Labour and Conservative parties have previously expressed opposition to Wandsworth’s plans, claiming the bridge would destroy one of the few green spaces left on the riverside. |
| Cllr Heather Acton, Westminster’s cabinet member for sustainability, said: “What is clear is that residents in Pimlico have huge concerns over the location and design of a new bridge connecting Pimlico and Nine Elms. We are not convinced that these concerns are being addressed. There is also a suggestion that residents are banned from public meetings on a major project right on their doorstep is also concerning. | |
| “Westminster is not against connecting the two banks of the Thames for pedestrians and cyclists, in fact, we are very enthusiastic. The location, however, needs far more careful thought, in terms of connectivity and also with regard to cost to the taxpayer. We believe that the style of the golden jubilee bridges which connect Westminster to the South Bank could be updated and replicated alongside the existing rail bridge that connects Battersea to Victoria station. | |
| “This would make an important new pedestrian-cyclist link between homes in Battersea and jobs in Victoria, as well as connecting these residents to one of London’s major transport hubs.” | |
| Related: Wild designs – and fierce opposition – for another new bridge across the Thames | Related: Wild designs – and fierce opposition – for another new bridge across the Thames |
| Nevertheless, Wandsworth has insisted that the crossing will be “a genuine contribution to London’s transport infrastructure”. The council’s competition came after a detailed Transport for London feasibility study and the shortlisted schemes will be assessed by an architectural jury and an expert technical panel. The bridge is expected to cost £40m to build, £26m of which has already been earmarked from community infrastructure levy contributions from nearby developments. | Nevertheless, Wandsworth has insisted that the crossing will be “a genuine contribution to London’s transport infrastructure”. The council’s competition came after a detailed Transport for London feasibility study and the shortlisted schemes will be assessed by an architectural jury and an expert technical panel. The bridge is expected to cost £40m to build, £26m of which has already been earmarked from community infrastructure levy contributions from nearby developments. |
| The Nine Elms crossing follows the recent furore over plans for a garden bridge between Temple and the South Bank in central London, initiated by Joanna Lumley and Thomas Heatherwick. The £175m proposal, which would prohibit cyclists, has faced an escalating backlash from leading novelists, cultural figures and architects, who criticised the cost, location and “abysmal” design. | The Nine Elms crossing follows the recent furore over plans for a garden bridge between Temple and the South Bank in central London, initiated by Joanna Lumley and Thomas Heatherwick. The £175m proposal, which would prohibit cyclists, has faced an escalating backlash from leading novelists, cultural figures and architects, who criticised the cost, location and “abysmal” design. |
| • This article was amended on Wednesday 22 July 2015 to include a new quote from Heather Acton from Westminster council. |