Controversial Garden Bridge project collapses on mayoral letter

London’s controversial and costly Garden Bridge project was down the gurgler on Friday, as the capital’s mayor Sadiq Khan formally withdrew support for the project.

The mayor wrote to the Garden Bridge Trust, which was spearheading the project to build a semi-public park on a new river crossing, telling them he could not guarantee the finances required for planning permission to be granted.

A recent review of the project by Dame Margaret Hodge had found £37.4m had been spent already on the project, and it would still cost another £46.4m even if it was cancelled.

Still, Hodge said scrapping the project - whilst still costly - would be the best value option at this stage.

“Dame Margaret was right to conclude that the project progressing would expose the London taxpayer to additional financial risk, both with regard to the bridge's construction and its maintenance,” the mayor said in his letter.

“I have been clear that this should not be allowed to happen.

“Accordingly, the Greater London Authority is unable to provide mayoral guarantees for this project.”