Delay to Bakerloo line extension would be ‘catastrophic’ say Lewisham and Southwark Councils

The leaders of Southwark and Lewisham Council, who are campaigning to extend the Bakerloo Line into South East London, today responded to TfL’s revised budget issued ahead of its board meeting on Wednesday:

We welcome TfL’s honest financial appraisal of their future capital programme. While it is encouraging that TfL continues to plan for the Bakerloo line extension within their limited financial resources, we are extremely concerned that any delay or pause would put at risk this once in a generation opportunity, whilst damaging southeast London’s economic recovery from COVID-19, and making it less able to tackle the climate emergency.

Economic stimulus

Boris Johnson said, ‘Build, Build, Build’ and we know infrastructure projects will be vital in restarting the economy. The Bakerloo line extension is estimated to generate £8.2 billion of local economic benefits and these economic benefits are already being felt. With the promise of the BLE businesses and developers have made investments decisions right along the route with thousands of new homes and jobs.

Creating new jobs will be essential to our communities in the post-COVID recovery. Ultimately the BLE will create 12,000 new construction jobs, 18,000 more in the nationwide supply chain and 9,500 permanent new jobs along the corridor.

Green recovery

The Bakerloo line extension will also be critical to Southwark and Lewisham’s green transition. Whilst our boroughs are committed to tackling the climate emergency, encouraging more residents to switch to public transport will be difficult when south east London is reliant on buses and an outdated rail network. The Bakerloo line extension would unlock one of the poorest connected areas in inner London by Tube, and be critical to unleashing southeast London’s sustainable transport potential. 

Financial settlement

Transport for London’s emergency budget lays bare how its current financial situation puts at risk major new capital projects, including the Bakerloo line extension, which will be crucial to the capital’s economic recovery.

We stand ready to support both City Hall and the Government in making the case for the Bakerloo line extension, and the future capital funding settlement that allows us to get this transformational piece of infrastructure built.

Petition to ‘Back the Bakerloo’

We are also calling on residents to show their support for the scheme and encourage everyone to sign an online petition.

Damien Egan, Mayor of Lewisham said:

“The Bakerloo line extension is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to bring the tube to Lewisham, Catford and beyond. As we look beyond COVID-19, it is clear that the Bakerloo line extension will also be essential to our economic recovery, supporting thousands of new jobs and affordable homes. The promise of a train every 2-3 minutes to the heart of central London is already underpinning investment in our borough, and it is important that the Government works constructively with TfL to ensure that this momentum is maintained.”

Cllr Peter John, Leader of Southwark Council said:

“The Bakerloo line extension is essential to deliver significant growth and thousands of much-needed new homes and jobs in London. The need for affordable housing has never been greater and in the Old Kent Road alone the extension will enable 20,000 new homes to be built. I welcome TfL’s continued commitment to the Bakerloo line extension, despite the unprecedented financial challenge, and it is vital that government works with TfL to ensure this critical project is not put at risk. Capital investment will be a crucial part of the country’s recovery, and the Bakerloo line extension is an opportunity that London cannot afford to miss.”