London is one step closer to one of its most ambitious landmarks yet. City authorities have approved the construction of a $275-million plant-covered Garden Bridge across the Thames River (From South Bank to Temple stations), complete with<em> '"</em>Titanic"<em>-</em>inspired viewing points.<br /><br />The Westminster City Council voted 3-to-1 to grant planning permission, giving the project the final OK it required to move forward.
London is one step closer to one of its most ambitious landmarks yet. City authorities have approved the construction of a $275-million plant-covered Garden Bridge across the Thames River (From South Bank to Temple stations), complete with '"Titanic"-inspired viewing points.

The Westminster City Council voted 3-to-1 to grant planning permission, giving the project the final OK it required to move forward.
Courtesy Arup
The bridge was designed by Thomas Heatherwick, the British architect behind the<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2F2012%2F07%2F26%2Fsport%2Folympics-day-wrap%2F"> 2012 Olympics cauldron</a>, and the recently announced floating island in New York's Hudson River. Structural engineering firm Arup and landscape designer Dan Pearson have also collaborated on the design.
London greenlights $275 million Garden Bridge —
The bridge was designed by Thomas Heatherwick, the British architect behind the 2012 Olympics cauldron, and the recently announced floating island in New York's Hudson River. Structural engineering firm Arup and landscape designer Dan Pearson have also collaborated on the design.
Courtesy Arup
<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2F2014%2F01%2F16%2Fworld%2Fleonardo-dicaprio-inspired-london-bridge-park%2F">According to Wired</a>, Heatherwick was inspired by the scene in "Titanic" when Leonardo DiCaprio took Kate Winslet to the bow of the ship and yelled "I'm the king of the world!" Small balconies along the length of the bridge will allow couples looking to reenact the scene.
According to Wired, Heatherwick was inspired by the scene in "Titanic" when Leonardo DiCaprio took Kate Winslet to the bow of the ship and yelled "I'm the king of the world!" Small balconies along the length of the bridge will allow couples looking to reenact the scene.
Courtesy Arup
The bridge was originally conceived by British actress Joanna Lumley as a way to commemorate the death of Princess Diana. She first approached Heatherwick about the project in 2012.
The bridge was originally conceived by British actress Joanna Lumley as a way to commemorate the death of Princess Diana. She first approached Heatherwick about the project in 2012.
Courtesy Arup
The bridge will span the 1,204-foot width of the Thames, and will support 2 million pounds of dirt, 270 trees, and countless small plants along with pedestrians.
The bridge will span the 1,204-foot width of the Thames, and will support 2 million pounds of dirt, 270 trees, and countless small plants along with pedestrians.
Courtesy Arup
"We need to hold up this large weight, complete with worms, rainwater and decomposing leafy mulch, without letting the bridge structure become visually more important than the garden," Heatherwick told <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2F2014%2F01%2F16%2Fworld%2Fleonardo-dicaprio-inspired-london-bridge-park%2F">Wired</a> in February.
"We need to hold up this large weight, complete with worms, rainwater and decomposing leafy mulch, without letting the bridge structure become visually more important than the garden," Heatherwick told Wired in February.
Courtesy Arup
"We will only be using plants which we feel will cope with the special challenges posed by a garden in the middle of a river," <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2F2014%2F01%2F16%2Fworld%2Fleonardo-dicaprio-inspired-london-bridge-park%2F">said landscape designer Dan Pearson</a>.
"We will only be using plants which we feel will cope with the special challenges posed by a garden in the middle of a river," said landscape designer Dan Pearson.
Courtesy Arup
The Garden Bridge Trust, the charity overseeing the bridge, hopes to begin construction in late 2015, and plans to open the bridge to the public in 2018.
The Garden Bridge Trust, the charity overseeing the bridge, hopes to begin construction in late 2015, and plans to open the bridge to the public in 2018.
Courtesy Arup