London’s Garden Bridge will draw “visitors from across the globe”, George Osborne said today as he kickstarted the fundraising appeal with £30million.
The Chancellor gave the project his stamp of approval, along with enough funding to see it through the early procurement stages.
Mayor Boris Johnson is also putting in £30m from Transport for London, and £30 million has been pledged by private donors. The unique green space over the Thames is expected to cost £150 million.
Mr Osborne said: “London’s proposed Garden Bridge will bring a new kind of public space into the centre of our capital city, attracting visitors from across the globe and showcasing the best in British design, creativity and engineering. As well as encouraging other economic development, both north and south of the river, this money will help encourage private donations to fund the rest of the bridge itself.”
The Garden Bridge is intended to be London’s slowest river crossing, with pathways between shrubs and trees designed to encourage people to dawdle and chat. It will connect Temple and the South Bank.
The Mayor said: “Thomas Heatherwick’s garden bridge will provide a stunning new landmark for London, broadcasting to the world the best that our city and our country’s creative talent has to offer. It will deliver substantial practical benefits for the capital including a regenerative boost to both river banks.”
Mr Heatherwick also designed the Olympic cauldron and the new Routemaster buses. The bridge was first proposed by actress Joanna Lumley.
Lord Mervyn Davies, chairman of the Garden Bridge Trust, said of the new funding: “We are delighted with this welcome contribution which will play a significant role in turning the vision to build the country’s first garden bridge into a reality.”
