The long-awaited extension of the Bakerloo line to Lewisham may hit a snag, and residents of the affected neighbourhoods are concerned.
Transport for London’s plans include adding an Underground station at New Cross Gate, where a car park serving the local Sainsbury’s currently is. But Sainsbury’s is laying claim to the same site, for a future high-rise development.
TfL and Sainsbury all pick up the car parking site to do development. (Yiling Cheng)
These plans, which TfL developed in consultation with members of the public over the last five years, are now being showcased in a series of eleven public exhibitions which will run until December 19 this year.
Telegraph Hill resident Maria Kinderson told Raven News that feels the proposed extension would “improve the pressure during the traffic peak period”. The current New Cross Gate Overground station is too small, she says.
Other residents have asked TfL if the station will be affected by Sainsbury’s construction plans. TfL has assured them that the station will proceed as planned.
Sainsbury’s spokesperson pointed out that “they fully support the Bakerloo line Extension and the benefits it will bring to the area and have developed proposals for the vacant Goodwood Road land to accommodate the station. TfL has accepted this is technically feasible and would not prevent the line coming to the area.”.
Residents lived near New Cross Gate attended to public exhibitions to get more information. (Yiling Cheng)
The Bakerloo extension will also see a new Underground station at Lewisham.
This worries Tim Bryan, who said: “I live near Lewisham station and I’m sometimes bothered by train noise at night. If extension works start, it will bring a lot of noise.”
Fellow resident Rebecca Landy said it would be “quite nice to have a new line cross to Lewisham and it would be more convenient for people who live here”. “But the house rental bill might be raised a little after Bakerloo line extension finishes,” she said.
If all goes to plan,, TfL will apply for powers to construct and operate the Bakerloo line extension in 2023, and expects to finish construction in 2030.
Bakerloo line extension route. (TRANSPORT FOR LONDON)