Transport for London have launched their latest consultation as they seek views on the proposed route, new station locations and how the DLR extension to Thamesmead via Beckton Riverside could be delivered. It opened on 23rd June and will remain open until 17th August.
This extension is planned to leave the current DLR line to Beckton at Gallions Reach and travel across the river to Thamesmead via a new station at Beckton Riverside. Its expected to help unlock 30,000 new homes and 10,000 new jobs with an estimated economic impact of around £15.6 billion.
This is the latest consultation in the project, the previous one had seen 75% of respondents stating that the proposals would make journeys into the wider east and southeast London quicker. It is now outlining the preferred route and station locations for the line.
A new station at Beckton Riverside opposite Gallions Reach Shopping Park is being proposed as part of the consultation. This would form part of a redeveloped town centre, with residential developments, employment, retail and community facilities. At Thamesmead, the proposed site would be located at Thamesmead Waterfront, part of a 100-hectare proposed regeneration site owned by Peabody. A station here would also mean faster and easier journeys to jobs, education and leisure, with journey times of 25 minutes to Stratford, 30 minutes to London Bridge, and 35 minutes to the West End (Tottenham Court Road).
Alex Williams, Chief Customer and Strategy Officer at TfL, said: “The case to extend the DLR from Gallions Reach to Thamesmead via Beckton Riverside is clear as it provides a crucial opportunity to create new homes, jobs and economic growth by linking two major growth areas with two new accessible stations. It’s really important to get feedback from those who may benefit from the extension in future, as this will help shape the scheme as we progress through to the next stages of planning.”
TfL hope to submit a Transport and Works Act Order (TWAO) application in autumn 2026. Although the extension is currently unfunded it is hoped that money will be forthcoming in he future. Subject to funding and approval, construction could start in the late 2020s, with the extension open in the early 2030s.
This DLR extension would provide a huge boost for London and the UK, unlocking 145 hectares of brownfield land and establish two residential communities with up to 30,00 new homes and 10,000 jobs in two of the most deprived boroughs across the country. The DLR has already been instrumental in transforming east London since it opened in 1987, with previous extensions to Lewisham, Woolwich Arsenal and Beckton all supporting new homes and jobs around the new stations and providing faster connections to central London.