A report supporting calls to extend Crossrail from Abbey Wood to Ebbsfleet has been hailed as “excellent news”.

The Thames Estuary Commission’s 2050 Growth Report, released today, said the extension of Crossrail 1 to Ebbsfleet would help the area achieve its goals of further transforming Dartford and its surrounding areas.

The commission was set up in 2016 to develop a transformation plan for north Kent, south Essex and east London.

The board overseeing the project has said the Crossrail extension is one of its main priorities for the ‘Inner Estuary’ area of Dartford, Ebbsfleet and Thurrock.

According to the report, the project of expanding the line could unlock 55,000 new homes and provide 50,000 new jobs.

The commission recommended the government should pump £20 million funding into the extension, to cover the engineering and financial costs.

It estimated the project could be completed by 2029.

Gareth Johnson, Dartford MP, said: “I welcome the recommendation in the report to expand Crossrail out to Ebbsfleet and Dartford.

"It is ridiculous that Crossrail stops 10 miles short of High Speed 1 at Ebbsfleet.

“Bringing Crossrail to Dartford and Ebbsfleet would be a huge boost for the local economy and it will open up the area to jobs and investment. This is an issue which has secured widespread support.

"There is a cost involved, but the financial benefits of getting connectivity between North Kent and the capital are huge.”

Sir David Evennett, MP for Bexleyheath and Crayford, has been vocal in his campaign to extend the Crossrail project out to Ebbsfleet.

After reading the report’s recommendations, he said: “This is excellent news and I am delighted the commission has supported our campaign to extend Crossrail from Abbey Wood to Ebbsfleet.

“This extension would help alleviate some of the problems with Bexley’s poor transport infrastructure, whilst also supporting significant growth and development.”

After the extension was debated in Parliament in May, MPs Gareth Johnson and Teresa Pearce joined Mr Evennett in asking the government to "finish the job" of Crossrail and permit its extension, to which the Government said it would reconsider the plan.

While the report emphasised the need to develop the Inner Estuary area, it pointed out constraints in the delays that have plagued the London Resort plans for the Swanscombe Peninsula.

There are also concerns about air pollution as a result of congested river crossings and the “slow pace of delivery” of Ebbsfleet Garden City.