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A long-awaited pedestrian bridge over the River Lea could finally be built in 2027 after nearly £10 million in funding was secured from two local councils.
The proposed Mayer Parry Bridge would link the Leaway footpath in Canning Town with Leven Road in Poplar, bridging the boroughs of Newham and Tower Hamlets. Plans for the project have been in discussion since at least 2021.
This week, Tower Hamlets Council confirmed it had allocated £4.8 million toward construction costs, while Newham Council leaders approved the same contribution during a cabinet meeting on October 23rd.
Newham mayor Rokhsana Fiaz described the bridge as a “vital piece of infrastructure” that will connect key areas of both boroughs and enhance access to jobs and economic growth.
Currently, there is no pedestrian or cycling route across the River Lea between the A13 at Canning Town and Twelvetrees Crescent at Bromley-by-Bow — a stretch of more than a mile. Council documents note that without a new crossing, people will continue to share busy main roads such as the A12 and A13 with heavy traffic.
Both councils have previously explored building three new bridges along this section of the river. While early plans envisioned all three being completed by 2025, a recent feasibility report presented to Newham’s cabinet indicates that only the Mayer Parry Bridge can be fully funded for now. Building the other two — Lochnagar Bridge and Poplar Reach Bridge — would require significant borrowing or diverting funds from other essential infrastructure projects.
In September 2024, Tower Hamlets Council discussed pursuing “innovative funding options” for the Mayer Parry Bridge. The two councils will each contribute £4.8 million, financed through developer contributions, while an additional £2.4 million grant will come from the Greater London Authority (GLA).
Tower Hamlets’ share is set to be formally approved by its cabinet in January 2026. Part of Newham’s funding — £1 million — will come from the developers of a planned data centre on Bidder Street, to be paid in two £500,000 instalments once the project reaches certain construction milestones in 2027.
Both councils anticipate signing construction contracts that same year. Officials note a small risk that the data centre project might not reach those payment stages on time, but safeguards are in place to either delay or seek alternative funding if needed.
An agreement must also be reached with a private landowner in Canning Town to allow bridge access, though council officers said discussions have been “quite positive.”
Meanwhile, the Lochnagar and Poplar Reach bridge projects remain on hold due to financial and land ownership challenges. Despite planning permission for Lochnagar Bridge being granted in May 2024, both councils acknowledge these schemes may only move forward if additional funding becomes available in the future.
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