Calls have been made to Transport for London to extend the Bakerloo line past Lewisham as far as Hayes.

Current proposals will see the line, dubbed Bakerlooisham, extended to Old Kent Road, New Cross Gate and Lewisham.

But Bellingham councillors have written a letter to Sadiq Khan and TfL asking them to “seriously consider” stretching the line out to Catford and Hayes.

In the letter, signed by Councillor Alan Hall, they say that respondents their consultation backed the extension into Bromley borough by two to one.

The letter says: “Lewisham Council’s Sustainable Development Committee has highlighted that in previous consultations on the extension of the Bakerloo line, almost all respondents backed the extension of the line to Catford.

“It also notes that respondents backed the extension of the line beyond Lewisham in to the London Borough of Bromley by a margin of two to one, with a significant number of those who did not actively support the extension expressing no preference.”

Another reason given is that a housing association has said the area has been “bypassed” in consideration of transport links, and the extension could bring economic and social improvements.

The letter continues: “Phoenix Community Housing who have over 8,000 properties locally have said that these areas to the South of Lewisham suffer from high levels of deprivation and lack of access to opportunities.

“They lie between central London and the outer commercial and retail centres of Bromley and have been bypassed too often in consideration of improved transport links.

“The connections that a further extension of the Bakerloo line would bring much needed economic and social uplift to these areas.

“This could address the housing crisis by allowing for an increase in building densities through improved public transport accessibility.  

In endorsing these comments we thank the Mayor of London and the Deputy Mayor for Transport but strongly urge them to further consider extending the Bakerloo Line beyond Lewisham to Hayes.”