The head of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has announced that construction of a Garden Bridge over the river Thames in London should be stopped following claims that the winner of the contest to design the bridge was selected unfairly.
President of the RIBA, Jane Duncan, said she was very concerned about the accusations and that the procurement process should be stopped and scrutinised before more public money was put at risk.
Questions have been raised over the way Thomas Heatherwick was chosen for the 175m project and the fairness of the procurement process, after it was revealed he and the London mayor, Boris Johnson, promoted the garden bridge in San Francisco before the official 2013 Transport for London (TfL) contest.
Duncan said,"The allegations relating to the procurement of the Garden Bridge are extremely concerning. All those who bid for work have a right to expect their submissions will be judged fairly, transparently and in accordance with the law."
President of the RIBA, Jane Duncan, said she was very concerned about the accusations and that the procurement process should be stopped and scrutinised before more public money was put at risk.
Questions have been raised over the way Thomas Heatherwick was chosen for the 175m project and the fairness of the procurement process, after it was revealed he and the London mayor, Boris Johnson, promoted the garden bridge in San Francisco before the official 2013 Transport for London (TfL) contest.
Duncan said,"The allegations relating to the procurement of the Garden Bridge are extremely concerning. All those who bid for work have a right to expect their submissions will be judged fairly, transparently and in accordance with the law."