Resident in legal action over planning permission for Thames Garden Bridge

A local resident has launched a legal challenge to the London Borough of Lambeth’s decision to grant planning permission for the Thames Garden Bridge.

Michael Ball claims that the authority’s decision in relation to the proposed 366m pedestrian bridge across the River Thames was unlawful.

His lawyers, Leigh Day, argue that Lambeth “failed to comply with its duty to protect the settings of listed buildings in the area, including Somerset House” and that the long-term funding arrangements for the operation and maintenance of the bridge had not been properly considered.

Construction on the Garden Bridge, which would be managed by the Garden Bridge Trust, is due to start later this year. The bridge would cross the river between Temple tube station on the north bank and the Queen’s Walk on the south bank.

Richard Stein of Leigh Day said: “This seems like a poorly thought through project which, although attractive at first glance, on reflection is seriously deficient in a number of important respects. This is reflected by the growing public concern expressed about the bridge.

“We are asking the court to quash the planning permission and to send the project back to Lambeth for much more careful consideration before such a significant change is made to the historic heart of London.”