This is what part of the River Thames could look like by 2018. Pic: Flickr

A project that will transform the Thames and provide more links from North to South London in form of a giant garden is about to get the go-ahead in an up-coming conference.

The Garden Bridge project intends to provide an extra route for commuters, linking Covent Garden and the South Bank, to bring more openness as well as creating a greener space in London.

The International Association of Horticultural Producer’s (AIPH) Green City Conference will take place on April 1 to reveal design plans for the public green space, which has been backed by the government and Transport for London (TfL) with a £30 million pledge respectively.

Garden Bridge landscape designer Dan Pearson of Heatherwick Studio will be is expected to outline the project and design aims in the conference, hoping to encourage urban greening.

Previous creations from Heatherwick Studio include the London 2012 Olympic flaming cauldron and the new Routemaster bus.

The AIPH aim to promote the marketing of flowers, plants and landscapes internationally, with the upcoming conference in attendance of experts who helped develop projects such as Australia’s ‘202020 Vision’ campaign to have 20 per cent more green space by 2020.

What the green space on the bridge could look like. Pic: Flickr

The Garden Bridge Trust website describes the planned outcome of the project as “a stunning new public garden and pedestrian crossing, spanning the River Thames, linking the South Bank to Temple station and beyond.”

As well as backing from the Government and TfL, Actress Joanna Lumley thought of the idea 15 years ago and has a big part in the development, saying to the Evening Standard, “A man called it ‘the people’s bridge’. And it is. It’s not for cars or trains. It’s for people.”

Construction is likely to start in 2015 once more funds are raised nearer to the £150 million mark and planning permission is granted, the completion date likely to be around spring 2018.