Bakerloo Extension hopes dashed by Chancellor
A major south east London regeneration scheme faces an uncertain future after the Labour government’s spending review did not provide funding for the long-expected Bakerloo Line extension to Lewisham.
First proposed back in 2014, the project would see the line extended from Elephant and Castle down to Lewisham and include two new stations along Old Kent Road.
Transport for London (TfL), Lewisham and Southwark council have long championed extending the London Underground as essential to unlocking new build housing and improving connectivity across the area. However, on the 11th June the Chancellor snubbed southeast London when she failed to provide any funding for the scheme, despite giving the go ahead to dozens of other transport schemes around the country.
Following the Chancellor’s announcement there even further bad news for southeast London when Transport Minister Heidi Alexander (Lewisham East’s former Labour MP) set out that TfL would be expected to raise fares by inflation, plus 1 per cent for each of the next three years.
Labour talks the talk on growth and housing, but when it comes to delivering they disappoint. The lack of funding, whether on transport or policing, is an appalling continuation of the Conservatives' cuts to London. Lewisham needs change.
Josh Mitte, Local Campaigner
Luke Taylor MP, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for London, challenged Labour on their failure to provide the necessary capital funding to extend the TfL network further into South London, citing the lack of guaranteed funds for the Bakerloo Line extension.