Mayor of London reportedly considering plans for inhabited bridge between South Bank and Embankment

The mayor of London, Boris Johnson, is reportedly considering plans to build an inhabited bridge over the Thames.

The Sunday Times reported this weekend that a so-called “living bridge” similar to the Ponte Vecchio in Florence or the original London Bridge is one of a number of high-profile proposals being considered by Johnson.

The plan is based on designs drawn up in 1996 by French architect Antoine Grumbach, and would involve building a crossing between Waterloo and Blackfriars bridges.


Boris Johnson
Johnson is reported to be considering a number of other high-profile plans

According to the newspaper, the Grumbach designs proposed a 35-storey tower on the northern side of the river, with a greenhouse over the south side housing gardens and plants. The route of the bridge itself would be lined with shops, bars and restaurants.

However, the £80m price tag suggested for this bridge would suggest a less ambitious proposal than Grumbach's design.