How important is the Bridge to other London boroughs?

Restoring Hammersmith Bridge not a priority of London's councils - story 37

I have been tracking the political status of Hammersmith Bridge since the turn of the year, searching for signs of its importance to elected officials at various levels. Its omission from both the UK Government’s list of priority infrastructure projects and the Chancellor’s preview of the upcoming Spending Review stood out.

Now, attention shifts to London Councils, the collective body representing the capital’s 32 boroughs and the City of London. In its submission to Chancellor Rachel Reeves ahead of the Spending Review, the organisation outlines its most urgent funding priorities. The publicly available summary runs to twenty pages.

Hammersmith Bridge is not mentioned.

Other, far larger infrastructure projects, however, receive explicit endorsements. London Councils advocate for capital investment in the Docklands Light Railway extension to Thamesmead, the Bakerloo Line extension, and the West London Orbital—projects that, if realised, would likely include new or upgraded crossings over the Thames.

The submission underscores what London’s borough leaders describe as an “acute financial strain, exacerbated by years of underfunding”. The structure of the document reflects this emphasis, prioritising systemic fiscal concerns over individual infrastructure projects.

London Growth Plan more important?

London Councils maintain that they stand ready to contribute to the UK Government’s economic growth ambitions. They highlight the forthcoming London Growth Plan—“the culmination of six months of strong collaboration and partnership with the Greater London Authority”—as a blueprint for driving productivity, reducing inequalities through inclusive growth, and meeting the city’s net-zero commitments.