London transport: DLR line extension proposals backed by mayor and MP
- Published
Londoners are being asked to have their say on new proposals
Extending the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) to cross the River Thames could allow 30,000 new homes to be built and offer better public transport links, Transport for London (TfL) has said.
The proposals have been set out in a new consultation to extend the line from Gallions Reach to Thamesmead.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan and the Labour MP for Erith and Thamesmead, Abena Oppong-Asare, both support the plans.
Thamesmead currently has no Tube, DLR or railway links to the rest of London.
TfL said it had considered a number of possible routes - including by extending the London Overground from Barking Riverside, or by creating a new tram service - but extending the DLR from Gallions Reach would be the most effective option.
The new DLR branch would include building a new station at Beckton Riverside, north of the river.
The route would then cross the Thames via a new tunnel to reach Thamesmead.
There could also be scope to extend the line to Belvedere in the future.
TfL said the project would enable the creation of between 25,000 and 30,000 new homes across four development sites on both sides of the river.
Mr Khan said the "demand for housing in London shows no sign of slowing down".
He said: "I'm excited for TfL to launch this consultation - extending the DLR will unlock huge opportunities for London, support tens of thousands of new homes, deliver new transport connections, and boost the economy, supporting the creation of thousands of jobs."
Labour MP for Erith and Thamesmead Abena Oppong-Asare, said: "This would be a much-needed public transport improvement for the people of Thamesmead who need to be able to travel easily and cheaply for work, study or leisure.
"I've long campaigned for these ambitious plans to put Thamesmead on the transport map and I'm pleased to have had the support of local authorities, TfL, local businesses, community groups, and most importantly the people who live here."
TfL said government funding was needed to make the extension possible.
It added that a partnership of private and public sector bodies with an interest in regenerating the area has so far paid for the feasibility work.
The aim is to agree a solution by 2025, in order for construction to begin as early as 2028 and open the DLR extension in the early 2030s.
The consultation is open from 5 February to 18 March online, external.
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- Published25 May 2022
