London’s ‘newest bridge’ could cost £13m more at Royal Docks but improve access to Elizabeth Line

An East London council has been asked to hand over £13.2 million to build a new pedestrian and cycle bridge at the Royal Docks, which will give residents access to the Elizabeth Line and the Docklands Light Railway (DLR). Plans to build the new bridge at Royal Victoria Dock were approved by Newham Council’s strategic development committee in May 2023.

The 312m-long bridge will be step-free and aims to provide easier access for residents and visitors to the local Elizabeth Line and DLR stations at Custom House. Royal Victoria Dock has an existing bridge which was built in 2000, however it is difficult to use as users have to climb several flights of stairs and the lifts often break and are regularly out of service.

The new bridge has “S-shaped curves” as part of its design and there are plans to include seats at the bends of the bridge so people can stop and rest if they need to. Once built, the new bridge aims to make it more accessible and easier for cyclists, people in wheelchairs and those who are less physically able to use the existing bridge.

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A £233m loan from public body Homes England has been secured and will be used by the developer, The Silvertown Partnership, to help with the early stages of the project, which also includes the provision of affordable housing. However, since the loan was granted, the overall costs of the bridge have increased, which is partly due to requests from the council to increase the width and capacity of the bridge.

The bridge was originally forecast to cost around £28m and would have been covered by the loan from Homes England, but the estimated costs have now risen to £41m. If approved by cabinet members next week, the council will draw £13.2 million from its capital program to support the construction of the bridge and new costs, which will be paid over the next three years. The plans will be discussed and decided by Newham Council’s cabinet members at a meeting on Tuesday, June 4.

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