Plans for trams to rattle through the streets of Sutton could be on track under proposals being backed by the Mayor of London, which could see the existing network extended.

A six-route short-list of extensions to the Wimbledon to Croydon Tramlink is being looked at by Transport for London (TfL), as a means of regenerating some of south London's most deprived areas, including the Roundshaw and St Helier estates.

And three of the planned new routes penetrate the borough, two going through Sutton and St Helier and the third through Mitcham Junction.

The proposals were welcomed by Sutton Council, which has preserved the routes from development in its draft Unitary Development Plan (UDP).

A spokesman said: "The council is in favour of these routes if TfL decides to go forward with them.

"We've got safeguards in our UDP so no developments can take place along them. But it's still early days."

Ken Livingstone's plan also proposes that south London should accommodate 57,000 new homes and around 51,000 jobs by 2016.

The results of the current evaluation should be ready by late summer but a TfL spokesman conceded that it will probably be into the next decade before they are implemented.

"We will now be looking at what demand there is in those areas by looking at other existing services like buses," the spokesman added.

A copy of the draft plan is available on www.london. gov.uk. The formal consultation period lasts until September 30.

July 12, 2002 11:30