Consultation shows support for DLR Extension to Thamesmead
The Council is happy to see the overwhelming positive public support for the extension of the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) to Beckton Riverside and Thamesmead. The consultation, launched in partnership with Transport for London (TfL) and the London Borough of Newham earlier this year, received over 1,254 responses.
The consultation revealed that 58% of respondents believe the DLR extension would make their journeys quicker, and 75% agree it would make journeys to wider east and southeast London easier.
A majority of respondents expressed their support for the plans. This was further reinforced by TfL's sample polling in Beckton, Gallions Reach, Thamesmead, and Abbey Wood, which found that 85% of residents supported or strongly supported the proposals.
Councillor Averil Lekau, Cabinet Member for Climate Action, Sustainability and Transport, said:
The overwhelming support for the DLR extension is no surprise. Residents in Thamesmead deserve better connectivity and the jobs and housing this could bring. This is a significant and positive step forward and we will work closely with TfL and our partners to develop detailed plans for the project and discuss the funding options to keep this momentum going. We are committed to making the borough easier, safer and greener to move around.
The scheme is currently unfunded, we and the other partners have funded the work to date directly but securing financing is a key priority. We will develop a comprehensive strategy, exploring opportunities across the public and private sectors, including TfL, local, regional, and national sources. Our goal is to agree an affordable funding package by 2025, allowing construction to start as early as 2028 and deliver the DLR extension to passengers in the early 2030s.
Extending the DLR to Thamesmead would support the creation of thousands of jobs and unlock significant housing potential, encouraging the construction of new homes in Thamesmead and Beckton Riverside.
The proposed DLR extension is a key part of the Council’s ‘Our Greenwich’ vision, which aims to deliver positive change for both existing and new residents. The consultation results clearly demonstrate the desire for improved connectivity in the area.
In addition to the DLR extension, we are exploring options for a bus transit scheme from Woolwich to Abbey Wood via Thamesmead. A public consultation on this will be launched in the future.