Rotherhithe pier could be demolished as plans submitted for UK’s first fully electric ferry service

By Robert Firth, Local Democracy Reporter

Rotherhithe could become home to the UK’s first fully electric ferry service as plans to demolish its pier have been submitted.

A zero emissions boat would transport passengers across the Thames between Canary Wharf and Rotherhithe, under the proposals brought forward by a group of developers led by Thames Clippers who run river boat services along the Thames.

The Thames Clippers service would run on electricity and replace the company’s current diesel ferry between the two destinations.

Rotherhithe’s existing pier would be demolished and replaced with a brand new pier, including a new pontoon. Plans to redevelop the pier have been submitted to Southwark council.

The project is expected to boost the capacity of each ferry from 100 passengers and five bikes to 150 passengers and 100 bikes on each crossing. The service would continue to run at around 15 minute intervals between 6am and 11:30pm.

There are currently 158 ferry crossings between Canary Wharf and Rotherhithe every day, with 79 departing from each respective pier. The journey between the two locations takes three minutes on average.

Thames Clippers has won grant funding for the project from the Government. Subject to Southwark council and Tower Hamlets council approving the pier plans, the new ferry service should be in operation by February 2025.

Transport for London (TfL) previously intended to build a footbridge connecting Rotherhithe and Canary Wharf, but the plans were scrapped in 2019 over costs.

Southwark Liberal Democrat councillor Adam Hood branded the ferry proposals “second rate”.

He said: “A footbridge would provide a convenient and free way to get across the river for locals. Residents now have to settle for an expensive and inefficient ferry.”

Pictured top: Doubletree Docklands Pier in Rotherhithe (Picture: Southwark council planning documents)