Transport for London (TfL) has invited Londoners to have their say on plans to extend the existing Docklands Light Railway (DLR) line from Gallions Reach to Thamesmead via Beckton Riverside.
A new consultation sets out updated proposals for how the extension could be delivered, including designs for two new stations, construction methods and potential impacts on local communities and the surrounding environment.
All feedback will be used to shape the final scheme ahead of a planned Transport and Works Act Order (TWAO) application in early 2027.
Plans include the proposal of a new station at Beckton Riverside (opposite Gallions Reach Shopping Park) as part of a wider redevelopment including homes, jobs, retail and community space, with a second station planned at Thamesmead Waterfront, a 100-hectare regeneration site owned by Peabody.
Thamesmead Waterfront is also being considered as one of Government’s New Town proposals, subject to consultation.
TfL has stated it is seeking public opinion on designs for the new stations, construction plans, and transportation methods for materials used on site, as well as the potential impacts on local communities and the environment.
The consultation is set to be supported by a programme of local engagement and communication, including letters to residents, leafletting and local drop-in events across the area, which will give residents, business and stakeholders the opportunity to voice their opinions directly with the project team.
TfL is working with the Royal Borough of Greenwich, the London Borough of Newham, the Greater London Authority and development partners including Peabody, Lendlease, Aberdeen Investments, Berkeley Homes and Homes England to support growth in the area – with improved transport links considered central to unlocking development at both Beckton Riverside and Thamesmead.
A new extension aims to significantly improve connectivity for those both living and working in the area, with journey times of around 25 minutes to Stratford, 30 minutes to London Bridge and 35 minutes to Tottenham Court Road.
It would also provide connections between two designated Opportunity Areas and four major development sites, and is expected to unlock 145 hectares of brownfield land, as well as support the creation of up to 30,000 new homes and 10,000 jobs – delivering an estimated 15.6 billion GBP in economic benefits.
Thamesmead Waterfront and Beckton Riverside are currently listed amongst the largest remaining brownfield sites in London, with TfL stating that their potential is currently constrained by a lack of direct rail links.
The extension scheme would include the construction of a new tunnel beneath the Thames, passing through a substantial layer of chalk that is well suited to tunnelling – an approach that has proven successful for other river crossings, including the DLR extension to Woolwich Arsenal in 2009.
TfL’s planning process includes the carrying out of a full Environmental Impact Assessment, with construction projected to begin in 2029 – subject to funding and approvals – and a grand opening expected in the early 2030s.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said:I'm really pleased to be progressing our exciting plans for the DLR extension to Thamesmead, following Government backing in the Budget last autumn. This is something I've long called for - alongside London's businesses and communities - because it will not only transform travel in a historically underserved part of our city, but also unlock thousands of new jobs and homes, boosting the economy across the capital and indeed the country.
I encourage Londoners to have their say in this detailed consultation and help shape these game-changing plans as we continue building a greener, better, more prosperous London for everyone.
