Fresh calls have been made to build a bridge across the River Thames in South West London almost a decade after the proposals were first announced.
The pedestrian and cycle bridge would link Nine Elms, in Wandsworth, to Pimlico, in Westminster.
The bridge would offer an alternative to the neighbouring Chelsea and Vauxhall bridges for pedestrians and cyclists, and potentially slash congestion along the nearby Battersea Park Road and Nine Elms Lane.
Wandsworth Council opened a design competition for the bridge in 2014, which was won by architects Bystrup the following year.
The council told the Local Democracy Reporting Service the bridge is still an ‘active consideration’, with further decisions surrounding funding to be set out in due course.
It follows the adoption of the council’s new local plan on July 19, which will shape development in Wandsworth for the next fifteen years by guiding decisions on planning applications and informing future investment.
The plan identifies the area surrounding Kirtling Street, in Nine Elms, as the indicative landing site for the bridge.
It says the Kirtling Street area is occupied by Thames Tideway Tunnel works, which are estimated to be finished by 2025.
It says the bridge ‘would connect the community on the south bank of the Thames in Nine Elms with the wider area’, while offering the opportunity to create ‘world-class’ public realm or open space along the approach to the bridge on the southern side.
Confirmation of the indicative location is subject to further detailed design.
The plan suggests the bridge could relieve ‘demand for walking and cycling on the neighbouring Vauxhall and Chelsea Bridges’ and ease ‘traffic congestion along the A3205 Battersea Park Road/Nine Elms Lane’.
It adds the council ‘will work with partners to bring forward the proposals for the Nine Elms Pimlico Bridge at the current indicative location’.
Conservative councillor Mark Justin asked for an update on the bridge proposals ahead of a Wandsworth Council meeting on July 19.
In a written question to the council, he said the Conservative group believes ‘it is important that progress is made’ on the bridge.
He asked for the authority to work with the Mayor of London and Westminster City Council to ‘confirm delivery of the bridge, and announce the plan and delivery roadmap’.
A written reply from Labour councillor Jenny Yates, cabinet member for transport, confirmed a location had been identified in the Kirtling Street area as the indicative landing site for the bridge. But she added: “Residents in the local area lobbied as part of the Local Plan examination to ensure the policy made clear that other locations would be possible.”
A Wandsworth Council spokesperson said: “Consideration is being given to how the use of limited funding available for regeneration in and around North Battersea can be best used to support development that improves the lives of the diversity of local residents in the area – and we’re keen to engage with a wide variety of residents to understand their needs.
“One local priority under consideration is to explore opportunities for better integration in the Kirtling Street area – including through a proposed Nine Elms Pimlico pedestrian and cycle bridge.
“These remain active considerations and further decisions around how funding will be prioritised will be set out in due course.”
Westminster City Council and Bystrup have been contacted for comment.
