The bridge will link new Silvertown development with Custom House Elizabeth Line station and the ExCel exhibition centre.
The plans, submitted by Lendlease’s Silvertown Partnership, support the planned £5bn development of the Silvertown site, which when complete should have around 6,500 homes.
The Millennium Mills building, left derelict and largely disused for around 40 years, will be restored and form the centrepiece of the new community.
An existing Royal Victoria Dock footbridge already provides a connection over the dock, but its elevated design to allow for marine traffic creates a 14-metre level difference between the dock side and the bridge deck, making it only accessible by several flights of stairs or lifts.
The proposed new bridge is step-free bridge, close to the water in a double-S curve, with seating areas where people can rest and take in views across the dock. The bridge will open at its mid-point with a double bascule mechanism, allowing vessels to pass as required.
The bridge will be funded from a £233m loan from Homes England that has been provided to support the delivery of homes on the site. This public sector involvement has enabled The Silvertown Partnership to progress with plans on the site further than any other previous development consortium over the last 40 years. Infrastructure works are now under way on site.
The Silvertown Partnership comprises Lendlease, the Greater London Authority (GLA), Homes England and the Guinness Partnership (TGP).
Lendlease project director Ed Mayes said: “This new bridge is key to unlocking the potential of the site, transforming the connectivity across the Royal Docks and putting London’s West End in reach in just 20 minutes. The stunning design of the new bridge will elevate it as a gateway to Silvertown’s exciting new piece of the city, and provide car-free access for all, establishing the Royal Docks as a pleasurable place to live, work and play.”
The bridge and jetty team includes:
- Moxon Architects – bridge architect
- SLA – jetty design
- Buro Happold – engineering and sustainability
- Eadon Consulting – specialist mechanical engineer
- Aecom – environmental impact assessment
- Arup – transport
- Lord Consultants – accessibility
- Eddowes Aviation Safety – aviation
- DP9 – planning
- Soundings – community engagement
Got a story? Email news@theconstructionindex.co.uk
Read More
The planned Silvertown footbridge, connecting North Greenwich to the Royal Victoria Dock, is one step closer to reality after plans were submitted to the Royal Borough of Greenwich. The bridge, once completed, will be one of the longest pedestrian and cyclist links in the world and will greatly increase the convenience of getting around London.
The design of the bridge was created by the innovative architecture team at Expedition Engineering and expansion of the architect has been lead by design engineer Ramboll. Their plans have been submitted to the Royal Borough of Greenwich and are comprised of five towers connected by unique, modular spans which have been inspired by London’s past industrial heritage.
The bridge has been designed to accommodate a maximum of 2,000 pedestrians and 3,000 cyclists at any one time. This, coupled with its length, means that the bridge will become the longest pedestrian and cyclist bridge in the world and forms part of the Mayor of London’s plan to develop and improve infrastructure for cyclists and pedestrians.
The bridge will be a much more direct route for cyclists and pedestrians than taking the train or using the current ferry. Additionally, it is hoped that the bridge will act as a further connection between North Greenwich and the Royal Docks, making it easier and more convenient for local residents to access key amenities and attractions in the area.
The bridge is currently undergoing an environmental impact assessment before the plans can be approved and construction can begin. It is expected to take up to three years to build the bridge during which time, the public will be able to follow the progress of the bridge.
Although it is not known exactly when the bridge will be completed, the planned Silvertown footbridge is a major step towards creating a more efficient and convenient way of getting around London.
