Wandsworth Council has launched an international competition to design a new bridge across the River Thames as part of a £1 billion infrastructure scheme in Central London.

The 480 acre Nine Elms district is now well into the construction phase and on course to create thousands of affordable homes, 25,000 jobs and billions in growth for the UK economy.

The Nine Elms to Pimlico bridge is part of a major infrastructure package transforming the Nine Elms regeneration area into a well connected Zone One destination.

As well as the bridge there are two new Northern Line tube stops, improvements to rail stations, two riverbus piers and a new network of footpaths, parks and cycle lanes.

A Transport for London feasibility study completed in 2013 found that there is a strong transport case for a new bridge at Nine Elms and it would provide pedestrians and cyclists with an attractive car-free alternative to Chelsea or Vauxhall Bridges.

Around £26 million is committed to the project through the development of Nine Elms and the new design would be used to lever-in match funding.

Ravi Govindia, leader of Wandsworth Council and co-chair of the Nine Elms Vauxhall Partnership, said: “This is a competition to find a team of brilliant engineers and architects to design a beautiful bridge spanning the Thames.

“This bridge has the potential to become an inspiring landmark, heralding the changes that are taking place south of the river and making vital connections to the north shore. The transport case is strong and this will be a valuable and sustainable addition to London’s transport infrastructure.

“This bridge needs to be designed to the highest quality standards; it must be inspiring, elegant and functional. The conundrum of creating a bridge that can be readily used by cyclists and pedestrians alike, that also provides adequate headroom for river traffic, is at the heart of the challenge.

“The design must also win the hearts and minds of Londoners, particularly the people living in the local area. Developing an inspiring, beautiful design will help us to leverage further funding and take the project to the next stage.”

Once the winning design is selected, it would need to go through the planning process before work could begin.