A long-awaited transport upgrade for Thamesmead has taken a major step forward, with work on a new DLR extension potentially starting next year.
Backed by Government support and outlined in TfL’s newly published draft Business Plan, the scheme could unlock up to 30,000 new homes and thousands of jobs across the area.
If approved, the scheme would see work begin as early as 2027, with the first services expected to run in the early 2030s.
The extension would represent the first significant expansion of the TfL network to receive Government backing in more than a decade.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan said: "The exciting news that the DLR extension to Beckton Riverside and Thamesmead can go ahead is a massive vote of confidence in London’s economy.
"It will make travel faster and easier, act as a catalyst for regeneration in a historically underserved part of our capital, boost national growth and help unlock the delivery of tens of thousands of new homes."
The project was first identified in the Mayor of London’s Transport Strategy in 2018, and has since gained strong public support through a series of consultations.
The most recent consultation, which ran from June 23 to August 17, focused on the proposed route, station locations, environmental impacts, and effects on nearby communities.
TfL published a summary report in December and plans to launch a third public consultation in 2026.
The DLR extension is unfunded at this stage, as TfL and the Government continue discussions on a funding settlement.
However, funding has been allocated to begin work on a Transport and Works Act application to keep the project moving forward.
According to TfL, the scheme could support the creation of 25,000 to 30,000 homes and 15,000 jobs, while enhancing access to employment and services in a growing part of east London.
The extension would branch off the existing DLR line from Canning Town at Custom House, running to Beckton Riverside before reaching Thamesmead.
Two new fully accessible stations would be built as part of the scheme, providing a new, sustainable river crossing in east London and improving public transport links in an area with limited existing options.
The project is being developed in partnership with the London Borough of Newham, the Royal Borough of Greenwich, and local landowners and developers.
In 2024, the Greater London Authority allocated an additional £23 million to support the scheme.
This would help support some of the planned housing growth in Thamesmead ahead of the DLR extension’s completion.
TfL and its partners held public engagement events in 2023 and plan to continue working with nearby residents as the project progresses.
A spokesperson said: "Our plans for the DLR station would help unlock vital new homes and jobs.
"The DLR network has seen significant growth in recent years, with demand expected to rise further as development expands around east London".
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