Advertisement

Sadiq Khan backs calls for new probe into the controversial £175m 'Garden Bridge'

Thumb_simon_harris_3
Main_stream_simon_harris_3
Simon Harris ITV London Senior Correspondent

London mayor Sadiq Khan today backed calls for a new probe into the controversial £175m 'Garden Bridge' over the Thames.

Credit: Arup

Labour MP Kate Hoey has asked an official watchdog, the National Audit Office, to investigate the use of public money on the project.

The mayor claimed last week the bridge would cost Londoners more to cancel than to build. He said £37.7m of public money had already been spent.

Credit: Arup

Mr Khan said some of the money was used to pay for design work on the planned river crossing.

Transport for London and the Treasury are contributing a total of £60m in loans and grants towards the cost of the bridge.

I welcome scrutiny of what's gone on with the Garden Bridge. It's quite shocking that it'll cost far far more to cancel the Garden Bridge than it will be to carry on with the project. If the NAO are going to investigate, that's good.

– SADIQ KHAN, MAYOR OF LONDON

The new mayor previously described the bridge as a Boris Johnson 'vantity project'.

The public money that has been spent so far has been used by the Trust to develop the scheme to the stage where we have appointed a contractor, detailed design work has taken place and the Bridge has secured planning permission. That work is crucial in enabling the project to secure large investment from the private sector.

The £37.7 million public money that has been spent since the project began includes securing necessary consents, progressing detailed design work, undertaking ground and river investigations, professional fees and developing parts of the bridge off-site.

– Garden Bridge Trust