Shapps safeguards route for Bakerloo Line extension

Secretary of State for Transport Grant Shapps has given approval to proceed with statutory safeguarding of the route of the proposed London Underground Bakerloo Line extension from Lambeth North to Lewisham.

When approved, the land required for tunnels, new station, infrastructure and construction sites would be protected.

It follows a Transport for London report which suggests there is significant support for extending LU’s Bakerloo Line beyond

Elephant & Castle to Lewisham, serving Old Kent Road and New Cross Gate.

A consultation in autumn 2019 garnered 8,640 responses from the public and 109 from stakeholders. It also received a response from the Back the Bakerloo coalition on behalf of the 20,600 who had signed up to that campaign, promoted by Southwark and Lewisham councils.

The majority (89%) of responses were positive about the proposals, including a new entrance at Elephant & Castle station, the route of tunnels between Lambeth North and Elephant & Castle, the worksite at North Cross Gate, and other matters such as a possible extension beyond Lewisham to Hayes and Beckenham Junction.

In a joint statement, London’s Deputy Mayor for Transport Heidi Alexander, Southwark Council leader Kieron Williams and

Mayor of Lewisham Damien Egan said: “Extending the Bakerloo

Line, delivered together with an upgrade of the existing line, would connect a historically underserved part of London to the Tube network, while supporting the delivery of thousands of new homes and jobs.

“It has the support of nearly nine in ten respondents to its most recent public consultation, as well as from businesses and local authorities along the proposed route.”