- Plans for a new pedestrian and cycle bridge in east London have been approved by Newham Council
- It would stretch from one side of Royal Victoria Dock to the other
- The development is part of Silvertown’s £5bn regeneration
- The council says around 35% of construction roles will be given to local residents
Plans for a new pedestrian and cycle bridge in east London have been approved by Newham Council.
The 312m long walkway will stretch across Royal Victoria Dock and is part of the £5bn regeneration of Silvertown.
It will be the second over-water bridge in the area, with funding for it secured through a £233m loan from Homes England.
The project director said the bridge was “the key to unlocking the site’s potential”.
The bridge will help commuters access the stations on both sides of the dock.
The new bridge is planned to start at the same location as the current crossing, on the north side of the dock, before heading towards Millennium Mills, the gateway to Silvertown’s planned downtown.
It will provide access to Pontoon Dock District Light Railway (DLR) station on the south side and Custom House station on the north side.
A report presented by Newham’s Strategic Development Committee noted that the existing Royal Victoria Dock Bridge required users to either climb many stairs or use lifts, making it inaccessible to cyclists, pushchairs, disabled people and the elderly.
Although the current crossing will remain in place, it is hoped the new bridge will be “safe and accessible for all users”.
As part of Silvertown’s major redevelopment, the bridge is intended to “serve as a gateway to the new Silvertown Quays neighborhood for those arriving from the north,” the report said.
Building the bridge will create a number of local jobs, Newham Council says
The council said around 35% of construction roles would go to local residents
Ed Mace, project director for Silvertown, said the new bridge was “the key to unlocking the site’s potential.”
He added that it would “transform connectivity” across the Royal Docks and make London’s West End “accessible in just 20 minutes”.
There were no objections from a public consultation and Newham’s Strategic Development Committee voted in favor of the plans at a meeting on Tuesday.
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