Council brush off eye-catching proposals for Hammersmith Bridge as ‘another press stunt’
By Ben Lynch, Local Democracy Reporter
An eye-catching proposal for Hammersmith Bridge has suggested two curved roads be built alongside the Grade II listed structure enabling motor vehicles to once again use the West London crossing.
Architect studio Sybarite and engineering firm Buro Happold have published their suggested designs for the iconic West London bridge, which has been shut to motor traffic since 2019.
The pair propose constructing two new bridges, one either side of the primary structure, in an arc design described as ‘elliptical ribbons’, though there’s no suggestion they are going to be taken up.
A spokesperson for Sybarite claimed the designs have been shared with ‘relevant council leaders’. The bridge’s owner, Hammersmith and Fulham council, however said the proposal appears to be ‘another eccentric press stunt’ and that it has not been involved.
The bridge, which connects Hammersmith with Barnes, has been shut to motor vehicles since April 2019, after micro-fractures were discovered in its pedestals. It is open to pedestrians and cyclists, who must dismount when crossing.
The council has spent around £48million on stabilisation and pre-restoration works since the bridge was closed. The cost of fully reopening it however has ballooned in the intervening years, and was most recently estimated at £250million.
A funding agreement between Transport for London (TfL) and the Department for Transport (DfT) in 2021 stipulated the council would pay a third of the overall cost. TfL and the DfT are to pick up another third each.
The council has previously said it would need to implement a toll to pay its share. A business case submitted with the Government in 2022, however has yet to be approved.
A Hammersmith Bridge taskforce which had not met in three years was recently reconvened by Labour’s Minister for Local Transport, Simon Lightwood, in a bid to move the project forward.
Sybarite and Buro Happold have proposed covering the two new structures in ‘mirror-polished stainless steel’, meaning they would ‘disappear in plain sight’ so as not to draw attention from the original bridge.
Torquil McIntosh, Co-Founder of Sybarite, said: “London’s bridges are powerful symbols of our city’s identity. My vision for Hammersmith Bridge is both deeply rooted in its historic legacy and boldly focused on the future – transforming it into a catalyst for wider regeneration. As both a resident and business owner, I see first-hand the urgent need to restore this vital gateway.”
A spokesperson for Hammersmith and Fulham Council said: “This looks like another eccentric press stunt from a company seeking publicity and we haven’t been involved.”
Sybarite and Buro Happold’s proposal for Hammersmith Bridge is not the first to suggest an alternative to reopening the crossing. Climate charity Possible previously suggested keeping the bridge closed to motor vehicles and to introduce driverless pods for people with mobility issues.
Pictured top: Hammersmith Bridge proposal (Picture: Sybarite)