Tower Bridge visitor attraction masterplan

The local authority for the Square Mile has published a prior information notice alerting suppliers to a potential future procurement for a masterplanner to upgrade the visitor experience at the Grade I-listed Horace Jone-designed landmark crossing.

The engagement exercise will help the Corporation decide on the ‘most attractive way of packaging and scoping a future procurement opportunity.’ Key aims of the project include redesigning and expanding the attraction’s current footprint, activating surrounding public realm and developing new audiences.

According to the notice: ‘The City of London Corporation (the “City”) is carrying out pre-procurement market engagement (“PPME”) in relation to the provision of a design team to develop a masterplan for redeveloping the visitor attraction within the current footprint, the surrounding properties owned by City Bridge Foundation and areas in the public realm.

‘The City will consider the feedback received to help inform its options and further decision making. For the avoidance of doubt, this phase of the project is not part of a formal procurement process and the City is not committing, at this stage, to carrying out such a process.

‘Participation or non-participation in the PPME shall not prevent any supplier participating in a potential future procurement, nor is it intended that any information supplied as part of the PPME shall place any supplier at an advantage in a potential procurement process.’

Completed in 1894, Tower Bridge is a major road crossing over the River Thames which features a central pair of bascules that can open to allow ships to pass through. The bridge includes a pair of bridge towers connected by two horizontal walkways containing a visitor experience.

The latest project aims to support the bridge’s aims to promote equity, diversity and inclusion; climate action, sustainability and environmental responsibility, and new pathways into science, technology, engineering, arts and maths.

Key aims include improving the visitor experience and facilities, upgrading wayfinding and visitor flow, responding to sustainability and climate action, and promoting accessibility and inclusivity.

The masterplan will also be expected to provide new workspaces for staff and to maximise potential for retail, food and beverage opportunities on the site which last year received close to one million visitors.

The soft market testing comes 12 years after Tony Fretton Architects completed a new 190m² café and restaurant next to the Tower of London nearby.