Mayor Sadiq Khan confirms NO support for proposed Nine Elms to Pimlico bridge

5th March, 2019

Nine Elms to Pimlico bridge preferred location

In response to a question from Andrew Dismore, Assembly Member, Mayor Sadiq Kham has confirmed that he does not support the proposed Nine Elms to Pimlico bridge which is being promoted by Wandsworth Council

Question No: 2019/3863

Andrew Dismore

As confirmed in a report by the Evening Standard and on the bridge’s official website, Wandsworth Council has chosen the option linking Battersea Power Station on the south side to a landing point by Churchill Gardens Estate, west of Claverton Street, Pimlico, on the north side, which is vigorously opposed by residents and ward councillors on the Westminster side. Will you confirm that Transport for London will not support this scheme in the absence of agreement from residents?

The Mayor

As my Deputy Mayor for Transport set out in her letter to you of 23 November 2018, this is a borough-led scheme, with which TfL has had limited involvement.

During my mayoralty, TfL has not spent any money on the development of this project. One member of staff in TfL’s City Planning team has provided limited technical assistance when requested by the borough, which is standard practice for borough-led schemes.

There is no provision in TfL’s business plan for expenditure on this project – nor do I anticipate that there will be going forward. Our focus is on new river crossings in the east of the city, including between Rotherhithe and Canary Wharf, where the river is a significant barrier to those walking and cycling.

As part of the development work, the full range of impacts of the bridge must be properly assessed by the London Borough of Wandsworth. The scheme must also be designed to ensure that it balances the needs and views of local people on both sides of the river.

It will be the responsibility of the bridge promoters, in this case, the London Borough of Wandsworth to secure planning permission for this local scheme, which will of course also need to be granted by Westminster City Council.

As I understand it, Westminster City Council have yet to be persuaded of the merits of this scheme.