Agenda item

Resolved:

The Committee resolved to pass the following comments to the Overview & Scrutiny Business Panel on 16 December 2014:

·         The Committee supports the extension of the Bakerloo Line past Lewisham to Hayes with the option to also extend to Bromley.

·         Whilst the Committee recognises the importance of the Bakerloo extension to Lewisham and the resulting transformation of Lewisham Station into a major strategic transport interchange, the Committee wanted to specifically ensure the submission to TfL did not overly focus on, or give the impression, implied or otherwise, that we would be in anyway satisfied with the Bakerloo Line terminating there. The Committee felt that the real benefits to the wider borough of Lewisham can only be fully realised by ensuring the route continues south into the borough and the case for extension should be made on that basis.

·         The Committee highlighted that the extension will pass through flood plain areas, especially around the Ladywell area, and that provisions should be considered to alleviate issues around building on flood plains.

·         Consideration should be given to the rezoning of stations on the new Bakerloo route, bringing more stations from charging zone 3 to zone 2 and from charging zone 4 to zone 3.

·         The current location of Lower Sydenham station is recognised as unsuitable for connectivity with pedestrians and other forms of public transport. Further serious investigation should be carried out with regard to relocating the station to one or both sides of the bridge at Southend Lane at the junction with the current Hayes Line/future Bakerloo extension. Furthermore, the current bridge width is acknowledged to be too narrow and too low for both vehicles and pedestrians. The inevitable significant track and bridge works would present the ideal opportunity to relocate the station, thus enabling greater integration with pedestrian, bus and car traffic. The land available could also enable development advantages to the borough.

·         For accuracy of the record, the report should include in its timeline the significant role of the Sustainable Development Committee since 2010 in supporting and promoting the southern extension of the Bakerloo Line.

Simon Moss (Transport Policy & Development Manager) introduced the item, highlighting the following key points:

·         Lewisham Council has been lobbying for the extension to the Bakerloo line for a long time.

·         This consultation by TfL is a good opportunity to put together the strongest possible response and a lot of background work is being carried out by the consultants Parsons Binckerhoff.

·         TfL has agreed to extend the deadline for submission for Lewisham Council as it is interested in seeing a full and detailed response from the Council.

·         The consultation will be discussed here, at Overview & Scrutiny Business Panel later in December and then agreed at Mayor & Cabinet in early January before being submitted.

Jon Noble from Parsons Binckerhoff then introduced their presentation and highlighted the following key points:

·         The Bakerloo line extension is required now. Capacity on trains running through Lewisham station is 85%, which is very busy.

·         The Bakerloo extensions will bring an increase in capacity, improved journey times to many central London locations and improved public transport accessibility levels (PTALs).

·         The development opportunities presented by the Bakerloo line will increase the number of new properties that can be built and forms a major part of the case for extending the line beyond Lewisham.

·         Lewisham Station is already a major interchange for South East London. The Bakerloo extension, with a possible Overground extension, would transform it into a strategic transport hub.

·         This would be an opportunity to reshape the station to make it more suitable for its improved role. This would include making it look better and feel easier to use.

·         The consultation response will look at the location of Old Kent Road second station, which could be very closely to the boundary of Lewisham.

·         There is also the potential for a change in the location of Lower Sydenham station or to rethink the land uses and development potential around the existing station.

·         There are a number of environmental considerations that need to be taken account of.

In response to questions from the Committee Simon Moss, John Miller (Head of Planning), and Jon Noble provided the following information:

·         The increase in housing units that are viable in Catford if the Bakerloo extension is included comes from the increased marketability and attractiveness of the location rather than the PTAL, which is high anyway.

·         There a finite number of units that can be built without exploring more high rise options. The numbers presented assume a mix of 1 and 2 bed flats.

·         The Council does not own the land around Lewisham station that would be needed to remodel Lewisham as a strategic interchange. However the Council is in discussion with those people who do.

·         The portal location for the tunnel is likely to be around Wearside, so the line would be above ground by the time it reaches Ladywell.

·         Step free and disabled access is part of the list of things required as part of the submission to TfL.

·         The current location of Lower Sydenham station is in an unpleasant looking industrial site and it has poor passenger links and is underused. There could be a case for moving it further north, towards Bell Green, as it could be much more accessible. The alternative would be to masterplan the redevelopment of the area around its current location, much of which is in the borough of Bromley. Further work would be required before the Council as an organisation could back either option for Lower Sydenham station.

·         The Hayes line extension is the cheapest element as it makes use of an existing line and makes good economic sense. The extension to Bromley would be useful but is not vital to the whole extension.

·         The engagement with Bromley Council over the Bakerloo extension has not been straightforward, especially as politically there has been some opposition to it. However, it is likely that the TfL consultation responses will show some degree of support amongst Bromley residents for the extension to Hayes and Bromley Town Centre.

·         There will the expectation of some local funding for the extension. The Council would need to carefully consider the potential for funding from S106 monies and CIL as Lewisham has other infrastructure commitments which it will need CIL to fund, especially if the Bakerloo line brings increased development.

·         The results of the consultation will be released in the New Year. After this more detailed plans will need to be drawn up by TfL, including the modelling and business case. Political decisions will also have to be made on how to fund it as it is an unfunded scheme at the moment.

·         There may be scope to look at the two Catford stations and improve linkages between them.

Resolved:

The Committee resolved to pass the following comments to the Overview & Scrutiny Business Panel on 16 December 2014:

·         The Committee supports the extension of the Bakerloo Line past Lewisham to Hayes with the option to also extend to Bromley.

·         Whilst the Committee recognises the importance of the Bakerloo extension to Lewisham and the resulting transformation of Lewisham Station into a major strategic transport interchange, the Committee wanted to specifically ensure the submission to TfL did not overly focus on, or give the impression, implied or otherwise, that we would be in anyway satisfied with the Bakerloo Line terminating there. The Committee felt that the real benefits to the wider borough of Lewisham can only be fully realised by ensuring the route continues south into the borough and the case for extension should be made on that basis.

·         The Committee highlighted that the extension will pass through flood plain areas, especially around the Ladywell area, and that provisions should be considered to alleviate issues around building on flood plains.

·         Consideration should be given to the rezoning of stations on the new Bakerloo route, bringing more stations from charging zone 3 to zone 2 and from charging zone 4 to zone 3.

·         The current location of Lower Sydenham station is recognised as unsuitable for connectivity with pedestrians and other forms of public transport. Further serious investigation should be carried out with regard to relocating the station to one or both sides of the bridge at Southend Lane at the junction with the current Hayes Line/future Bakerloo extension. Furthermore, the current bridge width is acknowledged to be too narrow and too low for both vehicles and pedestrians. The inevitable significant track and bridge works would present the ideal opportunity to relocate the station, thus enabling greater integration with pedestrian, bus and car traffic. The land available could also enable development advantages to the borough.

·         For accuracy of the record, the report should include in its timeline the significant role of the Sustainable Development Committee since 2010 in supporting and promoting the southern extension of the Bakerloo Line.