100 pages of fizzing ambition from politicians across London .. but no Bridge
London Growth Plan is another example of significant strategic thinking which ignore Hammersmith Bridge - story 41
A plan from London leaders to “turbocharge productivity” and add more than £100bn to London’s economy in the next ten years made no mention of Hammersmith Bridge.
The Mayor of London partnered with London Councils - a cross party group of local authority representatives - and various other groups to propose the London Growth Plan to restore productivity growth. The Capital’s productivity grew by an average of 3.16% between 1998 and 2007 compared with 0.12% year between 2008 and 2022.
The numbers are eye-catching. If it worked, this plan would put an extra £11,000 “in the pocket of every Londoner”. It would provide £27bn extra tax revenue to fund vital public services in London and beyond. An additional £21m is aimed at revitalising local high streets.
No wonder Dave Hill in his newsletter, described it as is a “100-page burst of welcome positivity”. (This is an excellent newsletter - please do support Dave in his work, if you can)
This is a confident, ambitious plan covering the next ten years from the Mayor and representatives of the 32 boroughs and the City .. and yet there’s no mention of Hammersmith Bridge.
As BBC News reported, “ ..industrial hubs in outer London, plans for rent-controlled key-worker homes and public transport upgrades, will be part of the plans.’ This shopping list includes investment in education, house-building and new transport. But not the Bridge.
Indeed several key transport projects are called out included including Docklands Light Railway extension to Thamesmead, the Bakerloo line extension in south London and the West London Orbital. But not the Bridge.
No specifics but hope in the generalities?
The Growth Plan’s broader push for infrastructure investment could bolster ongoing efforts to secure funding to restore the Bridge. For example, the Mayor and London Councils asked for more Government investment in London’s infrastructure as a whole. The Growth Plan stresses “improving public transport” citywide as vital to reducing poverty and driving growth. This includes smaller-scale upgrades and maintenance to keep London’s bridges, roads and transit safe and efficient. Although not explicitly mentioned, Hammersmith Bridge’s restoration could fit in to this category.
That said, the Plan makes clear London ““must decarbonise and adapt to climate change”, turning climate action into an opportunity to “transform the fabric of the city”. The plan’s “Green Growth” ambition reinforces existing initiatives like the Ultra Low Emission Zone and the creation of greener public spaces, aiming to make London a zero-carbon, “National Park City” by the end of the decade.