Wandsworth Council has revealed plans for a new pedestrian and cycle bridge across the River Thames.

The proposals for a bridge between Pimlico and Nine Elms were unveiled as part of a design competition on 21 July.

A £26 million contribution for construction has already been identified from the development of Nine Elms and the new winning design would be used to 'lever-in' further funding.

The public is being invited to comment on the four alternative designs, each of which is being developed by a team of internationally renowned architects and engineers.

The four competing teams were shortlisted earlier this year from among 74 initial competition entries.

The designs ideas have since been developed further and will be on display at exhibitions in Wandswoth and Westminster in the coming days.


The winning teams will be named later this year by the competition's jury panel, consisting of Council Leader Ravi Govindia, Lambeth Councillor Joanne Simpson, architect Graham Stirk, engineers Henry Bardsley and Chair of Cabe at the Design Council Pam Alexander.

The shortlisted designers are:

• Buro Happold with Marks Barfield Architects, J&L Gibbons Landscape Architects, Gardiner &Theobald.

• Bystrup Architecture Design & Engineering with Robin Snell & Partners, Sven Ole Hansen ApS, Aarsleff and ÅF Lighting.

• Ove Arup & Partners with AL_A, Gross Max, Equals Consulting and Movement Strategies.

• Ove Arup & Partners (lead team) with Hopkins Architects and Grant Associates.

Council Leader Rabi Govindia 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."

One obstacle for the design teams to overcome is the bridge height, which has to rise above above the river banks so large vessels can pass beneath.

This has to be done without creating too steep a slope for cyclists and pedestrians.

The bridge is part of the infrastructure package needed to support growth in Nine Elms on the South Bank.

(LM)