To alleviate these problems the pier’s owner, London River Services, commissioned Beckett Rankine to design and project manage an extension to the pier. The 30m long extension is to be added to the upstream end of the existing pier and will require one additional mooring pile to secure it. The design detailing of the extension follows the style of the existing pier but the pontoon hull is much simpler as it does not incorporate any internal accommodation. The extension will be the first pier project in London to have a zero operational carbon footprint as solar photovoltaic panels on the roof will generate more electricity than the extension uses with excess electricity helping to power the main pier.Tower Pier is one of the busiest piers in London and with the increase in river boat services since the pier was built in 2000 congestion now results in vessels queuing for a berth. In the summer the situation is made worse by the cruise terminal facility that is incorporated within the pier which takes over one of the berth when a cruise ship is berthed at Tower Bridge Upper moorings.

The Dutch firm Ravestein BV won the tender for construction of the extension and fabrication of the box pontoon is now well advanced in their yard at Deest. Delivery to the Thames is scheduled for February 2012.