Ambitious plans for an extension of the Elizabeth line through Bexley into Kent have taken a step forward as City Hall back proposals.

The Elizabeth line, or Crossrail, is set to open in December this year, connecting Abbey Wood to Slough through Canary Wharf and Liverpool Street.

Local campaigns in Bexley and Dartford have called for an extension of the route past Abbey Wood, through the borough and then out towards Ebbsfleet.

Sadiq Khan has now backed the plans, and has set out his support in his a recently published transport strategy.

According to City Hall, the extension could support 55,000 new homes in Bexley and north Kent.

The Mayor’s proposal said: “The Mayor, through TfL and relevant boroughs, will support a Government-led extension of the Elizabeth line eastwards from Abbey Wood to provide up to 12 trains per hour, enabling Good Growth in the Thames Gateway corridor within and beyond London.”

According to the transport strategy, the extension could be delivered by 2025.

Leader of Bexley Council, Teresa O’Neill said: “We are delighted the Mayor has accepted our proposal to “finish the job” by joining up Abbey Wood to Ebbsfleet stopping at Belvedere, Erith & Slade Green as this is crucial to the “good growth” we want to achieve in Bexley.”

A growth strategy was published by Bexley Council earlier this year, setting out ambitious plans to build 31,000 homes by 2050.

The council listed key infrastructure projects that would be needed to support the high levels of growth planned.

An extension of the Elizabeth Line, as well as continuing the DLR into Belvedere, are both mentioned.

Increasing Crossrail towards Ebbsfleet would allow for thousands of new homes in Belvedere, Erith and Slade Green.

The initial opening of Crossrail is set for December this year, with councillors hearing at a transport meeting on Tuesday night that the project was now 90 per cent complete.