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Support for Bakerloo line extension at Parliament launch as ‘first station upgrade’ takes shape

11 March 2024

  • A new report on the benefits of the Bakerloo line upgrade and extension (BLUE) was launched in Parliament
  • Southwark Council was joined by MPs, the GLA, and other London councils to #BackTheBakerloo
  • The new ticket hall at Elephant and Castle tube station hit a building milestone, which helps pave the way for the extended Bakerloo route
  • £250k raised through a levy on development has also been allocated to the BLUE by the council – match funded by Lewisham Council

It was a big week for the Bakerloo line upgrade and extension (BLUE). Southwark Council – in partnership with Lewisham Council and Central London Forward – launched a new report in Parliament, while the route's 'first station upgrade' takes shape, with further funding approved to design more stations along the new line.

At the launch in Parliament (Tuesday 5 March), Cllr Kieron Williams set out what the BLUE could deliver for the capital. It would support over 100,000 new homes, create 10,000 jobs in Lewisham, Southwark and Bromley, and deliver a £1.5bn boost to the economy every year. Travel time from Old Kent Road to Oxford Circus would be cut by nearly two thirds from 38 minutes to 13 minutes.

Cllr Williams was joined by other London leaders who all made the case to #BackTheBakerloo, including:

  • Vicky Foxcroft MP, Member of Parliament for Lewisham Deptford
  • Jennifer Daothong, Chief Executive of Lewisham Council
  • John Dickie, Chief Executive of BusinessLDN
  • Seb Dance, Deputy Mayor of London for Transport

In the same week, Cllr Williams joined an event to mark a major building milestone at the new ticket hall at Elephant and Castle tube station. Works hit the deepest level for the new step-free entrance and ticket hall to the Northern line that will be integrated with the Bakerloo line's ticket hall. This will make changing between the two lines easier and reduce congestion.

The new ticket hall enables the tunnels to reroute. This paves the way for extending the Bakerloo line, making Elephant and Castle the first new station of the new route when it gets the green light.

The council has also been able to invest a further £250k into the BLUE thanks to a levy they raise on development (known as the Community Infrastructure Levy). It helps the council to make sure that development in the borough works for all. This money has been match funded by Lewisham Council in order to design new stations along the route of the extension.

Cllr Kieron Williams, Leader of Southwark Council, said: “The Bakerloo Line Upgrade and Extension’s time has come. It’s a shovel ready project that will unlock thousands of homes and jobs. So it is no surprise that it has the backing of MPs, the Mayor of London, TfL, London Councils, London businesses and residents right across our city. It’s fantastic to see the route's 'first station upgrade' under construction. It’s time the government got on board, and switched the signals to green.”

Brenda Dacres, Mayor of Lewisham, said: “The Bakerloo Line is vital to unlocking the new homes, jobs and investment Lewisham needs and deserves. We’ve been arguing for the upgrade and extension for many years and this report sets out the clear benefits not just for Lewisham and London, but for the whole country.

“The Bakerloo Line is vital to Lewisham and London’s continued growth. Locally it would slash journey times and provide much-needed capacity at our busiest stations as well as the least well-connected parts of the borough. It would create tens of thousands of new jobs and homes, as well as make our capital city greener and more sustainable.

“The project has overwhelming support from local people and a wide range of businesses. There was real enthusiasm from those who came to our report launch in parliament, and it was important to share its findings with people who help to lobby for and shape funding decisions. The message is clear - now is the time for the Government to commit to this vital project.”

The report launched in Parliament was commissioned by Central London Forward – the partnership of the 12 central London boroughs – along with Lewisham Council and Southwark Council. It was carried out by Hatch – a consultancy specialising in transport and infrastructure.

Page last updated: 11 March 2024

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