Policy T3 — Transport capacity, connectivity and safeguarding

Policy T3 Transport capacity, connectivity and safeguarding A Development Plans should develop effective transport policies and projects to support the sustainable development of London and the Wider South East as well as to support better national and international public transport connections. B Development Plans and development decisions should ensure the provision of sufficient and suitably-located land for the development of the current and expanded public and active transport system to serve London’s needs, including by: 1) safeguarding existing land and buildings used for public transport, active travel or related support functions (unless alternative facilities are provided to the satisfaction of relevant strategic transport authorities and service providers that enable existing transport operations to be maintained and expanded if necessary) 2) identifying and safeguarding new sites/space and route alignments, as well as supporting infrastructure, to provide necessary strategic and local connectivity and capacity by public transport, walking and cycling, as well as to allow for sustainable deliveries and servicing 3) safeguarding London’s walking and cycling networks C Development Plans should appropriately safeguard the schemes outlined in Table 10.1. Development proposals should provide adequate protection for and/or suitable mitigation to allow the relevant schemes outlined in Table 10.1 to come forward. Those that do not, or which otherwise seek to remove vital transport functions or prevent necessary expansion of these, without suitable alternative provision being made to the satisfaction of transport authorities and service providers, should be refused. D In Development Plans and development decisions, particular priority should be given to securing and supporting the delivery of upgrades to Underground lines, Crossrail 2, the Bakerloo line extension, river crossings and an eastwards extension of the Elizabeth line. E Development proposals should support capacity, connectivity and other improvements to the bus network and ensure it can operate efficiently to, from and within developments, giving priority to buses and supporting infrastructure as needed. 10.3.1 The Mayor recognises the vital importance of working collaboratively with a wide range of strategic partners to achieve good transport connectivity within London, and also between London and the Wider South East, the rest of the UK and a global network of other cities. Public transport is the most efficient means of moving people over distances that are too long to walk and cycle. London has one of the most extensive public transport networks in the world, with more than nine million trips made every day by bus, tram, tube, train and river. Use of the public transport system has increased by 65 per cent since 2000 largely because of enhanced services and an improved customer experience. 10.3.2 By 2041, London’s transport networks will need to cater for over five million additional trips every day. There is therefore an urgent need to improve public transport capacity, connectivity and quality of service to ensure that it continues to cater for London’s growth. Particular attention should be paid to how the complementary modes of walking, cycling and public transport interconnect at transport hubs and on streets across London. 10.3.3 Table 10.1 sets out both the transport schemes identified in the Mayor’s Transport Strategy evidence base as being able to accommodate London’s growth sustainably, and those that can achieve the wider economic, health and environmental objectives of this Plan. Additionally, a number of schemes are required to unlock growth (particularly after 2029), [178] which need to be appropriately protected so the Plan can be delivered. 10.3.4 When preparing Development Plans, local authorities should engage with TfL (and other relevant authorities) to appropriately plan for sites and routes, including those in Table 10.1, required to deliver an enhanced or expanded transport network. 10.3.5 Where a scheme in Table 10.1 could potentially be affected by a proposal, applicants should consult with TfL (and other relevant authorities) at an early stage to understand the latest status of the scheme (which may change over time) and identify impacts and whether any suitable mitigation is possible. 10.3.6 Development proposals should identify new sites or routes that are or will be required for local public transport and active travel connections, where appropriate. This should be set out in a transport assessment or transport statement . The way in which developments connect to local public transport and active travel networks plays a critical role in widening transport choice across London and therefore it may be necessary for proposals to facilitate the delivery of local connections through, for example, provision of land for walking and cycling routes or bus stops and supporting infrastructure. 10.3.7 The Elizabeth line will increase capacity within central London by about ten per cent, relieving crowding on the Tube network and reducing journey times and congestion at stations. An eastward extension to the Elizabeth line could support thousands of new homes and jobs along the route in Bexley and north Kent. The extension could link to High Speed 1 at Ebbsfleet and boost rail connectivity throughout the Wider South East. 10.3.8 Crossrail 2 is essential to London’s future. This major new line will provide capacity for 270,000 people to travel into and across central London each morning and help to reduce crowding elsewhere on the network, as well as unlocking around 200,000 new homes and supporting up to 200,000 new jobs. Working with partners, the Mayor aims to open Crossrail 2 in the 2030s. 10.3.9 Extending the Bakerloo line is also necessary to provide extra capacity on the Tube in south east London. The scheme would enable capacity for up to for 65,000 passenger journeys during the morning and eveningLondon Plan Policy T3 · official source →