The leader of Greenwich Council has said government money for a bus transit scheme in Thamesmead is a “step in the right direction” – but added that a Docklands Light Railway extension would be vital for the area.
Jeremy Hunt included £23m for a “rapid transit bus network” in the autumn statement – the only explicit commitment by the Conservative chancellor to invest in London’s infrastructure.
But both Greenwich and Newham councils want the bus project to be a precursor to a DLR extension from Beckton to Thamesmead, serving major new developments on both sides of the river that could deliver 30,000 new homes.
The extension would end at what at the moment is the Cannon Retail Park on Central Way, which is part of a site due to be transformed into the Thamesmead Waterfront development with thousands of new homes.
Asked by Olu Babatola, a Thamesmead Moorings councillor, for an update on the plans at last night’s full council meeting, Anthony Okereke welcomed the money but said more help was needed.
“It is a step in the right direction by way of funding,” he said. “Obviously one needs to drill down into that to understand the timelines of that when that will be delivered to make sure that we can capitalise on it.
But also it’s important that we also get the DLR to Thamesmead and we can’t simply rely on the bus transit. We need the whole package of sustainable transport to make sure we unlock the development that’s coming forward in Thamesmead and Abbey Wood. We want to see a green city there.”
Under current plans, the bus transit – a service with its own lanes and priority over normal traffic – would run from Woolwich to Plumstead station, along Eastern Way to Thamesmead town centre, then via Carlyle Road and Harrow Manor Way to Abbey Wood station.
A similar service was introduced to serve the Barking Riverside development in 2010, but the local council refused to give permission for more new homes there until a rail link was provided. The London Overground eventually arrived there last year.
In June, Transport for London said that it hoped to agree funding for an extension by 2025.
The outline business case includes both the bus transit scheme and DLR extension, which it said would take five years to build and cost £1.7 billion.
Earlier this week Len Duvall, the London Assembly member for Lewisham & Greenwich, criticised the lack of funding for the DLR and the government’s refusal to renew a long-term funding deal by Transport for London.
“The proposed DLR extension would massively benefit my constituents in Thamesmead, improving connectivity to the rest of London and creating thousands of new homes and jobs,” he said.
“However we won’t see this much needed transformation without proper funding from the government for TfL. We need a long-term funding plan, not a sticking plaster deal that holds back capital projects like this one.
“It is not only residents in Thamesmead that would benefit. When London thrives, so does the rest of the country, with big capital projects like this one creating jobs elsewhere in the UK.
“It is disappointing that the Government have refused to make any commitments, instead leaving TfL and Londoners in limbo until March, when current funding runs out. I’m calling on them to ensure TfL gets its fair share, so Thamesmead, and London as a whole can benefit.”
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