South London Sub-regional transport plan – 2012 update MAYOR OF LONDON 1 2 Introduction Publication of the sub-regional transport e.g. through borough LIPs and through the Battersea and to renew the safeguarding of It is for the sub-regional Panel, formed of plans in November 2010 reflected sub-regional Panels, to be taken account the Chelsea – Hackney route in 2014 . This the participants of the South London significant collaboration and joint work of. will provide an opportunity to ensure a Transport Strategy Board to discuss this between TfL, boroughs, sub-regional future scheme best serves future needs as draft update and agree the next steps. I partnerships and London Councils as well Over the past year there have been some currently perceived. would welcome engagement and as a range of other stakeholders. notable successes for London’s transport comments on the content and process so system, many of them on the national and The financial context remains constrained, that together we can continue to plan this It is now just over a year since the plans TfL rail networks. The Secretary of State’s but, it remains vital that we look beyond the great city and ensure that the south sub- were published. The sub-regional process recent announcement on High Speed 2 current Business Plan, continuing to plan region fulfils its potential. is an ongoing programme, enabling TfL to marks an important milestone for a project and address the challenges which a work closely with boroughs to address which offers enormous potential to growing population brings. In fact rather Peter Hendy Jan 2012 strategic issues, progress medium-longer strengthen our ability to generate economic than diminishing the importance of this, the term priorities and also respond to changing growth in the future. Ensuring there are difficult economic situation makes this all circumstances. adequate connections to HS2 to the south the more important, for a reason that the sub-region, will be essential if businesses Chancellor has made clear – investment in This document, together with its and residents in the region are to fully transport infrastructure will play a vital role counterparts for the other sub-regions, is benefit from this. The importance of this is in stimulating future economic growth. intended to be an ‘addendum’ to the original magnified by the fact that the Airtrack plan – providing a snapshot of the latest project was cancelled earlier in the year. As well as highlighting what progress has situation and very much rooted in the been made this addendum also sets out the ongoing collaboration. An update was The initial stage of the Thameslink project considerable challenges which remain. In considered useful to allow a number of was completed in December 2011. This response to the challenges TfL and the developments to be incorporated, and to increases morning peak seat capacity boroughs need to work together to develop bring the plans up to date in a number of between Blackfriars and King’s Cross St a viable range of measures supported by a respects. Pancras by 17%. Over the coming months funding package. the extension of the London Overground Firstly, it provides an opportunity to report from Surrey Quays to Clapham Junction With the growth which is forecast in London on the implementation of funded transport will also start operating, completing the it is vital that every effort is made to schemes and progress with other schemes. transformation of London’s orbital rail manage our roads and public spaces system. effectively. Urban realm which is conducive Secondly, this update allows developments to access by public transport, walk and in other, related, policy areas to be TfL has continued to work with the cycle has been shown to have positive incorporated in the plans. boroughs to keep the bus network up to economic benefits. TfL will work with These support a renewed emphasis on date and improve reliability. 150 hybrid boroughs in the sub-region to ensure that facilitating sustainable growth. This is the buses have been introduced in 2011 and the long term needs of both radial and principal aim of the new National Planning there will be 300 in service by the end of orbital key corridors and places are Policy Framework which the Government 2012. A new innovative real time balanced, to achieve win-wins where announced earlier this year. It is also countdown system has now been rolled out possible, or to make choices about which integral to the vision which drives the across the network, providing timings via objectives to prioritise. London Plan, which was adopted in July the internet, it is the largest service of it’s 2011. kind anywhere in the world. Later this year The experience gained of working through TfL is also introducing a new bus for the sub-regional panels and the benefits of Thirdly, by allowing the latest modelling and London, further adding to a bus service the latest sub-regional transport modelling analysis to be incorporated the update which is of the highest quality since records which TfL has undertaken are also allows the definition of the challenges to be began. incorporated. All this has allowed us to refined. update our understanding of the Other useful progress includes the outstanding transport challenges facing the Fourthly, the Addendum also allows Government’s announcements of support south sub-region and to refresh our view as 3 progress made across the south sub-region for the extension of the Northern Line to to how to these could best be met. Contents 1. Introduction 2. Context 3. Progress Report 4. Update on the transport challenges 5. Responding to the challenges: beyond the Business Plan 6. Delivery 7. Summary 4 2. Context 5 Regional level south London in this regard. The scale 2. Context The publication and adoption of the of the growth we need to accommodate new London Plan, with its emphasis on is clear from the London Plan and high-quality growth, collaboration with boroughs’ aspirations in their LDFs and Key policy Key themes delivery partners, and fostering added impetus has been provided with updates localism, confirms that Opportunity the NPPF and the National Areas will be the focus of growth. In Infrastructure Plan. South London will • National Planning •Growth South London, these are Croydon and need to play a key role in supporting Policy Framework • Localism Vauxhall Nine Elms Battersea in and driving this growth – but we also National • National Infrastructure • Enterprise Zones conjunction with the sub-region’s need to ensure this growth is Plan • Reducing barriers designated Strategic Outer London sustainable – and that the quality of life • Localism Bill to project delivery Development Centres: Biggin Hill, the for Londoners is maintained and Wandle Valley and Croydon. enhanced. • Opportunity Areas • London Plan Other Mayoral strategies, including • Planning for growth Supplementary Planning Guidance Ensuring that growth is not constrained • SPG • Riot recovery •LEP documents, also raise transport needs. by inadequate transport supply and that London‐wide • Liveability we can support more sustainable travel • Electric Vehicles This focus on the economy does not options – is one of the principal • Air Quality mean other outcomes are not objectives of the ongoing work in the • Cycling important. In fact, the events of summer sub-region. There is also an aspiration 2011 in which rioting broke out in many to rebalance the national economy areas of the capital and in other cities in away from a perceived overreliance on Sub‐regional the UK mean that the role of transport the financial services sector. in facilitating social inclusion and providing access to employment and Borough level other opportunities will be scrutinised The context of the Local Development •LDFs • Enterprise partnerships more closely than ever. In the sub- Framework’s and Local Implementation •LIPs • Local unemployment region this may mean a redoubled Plans published by the south London Boroughs •CIL • Local links emphasis on ensuring that the urban boroughs is also critical. • Riot recovery realm facilitates walking, cycling and a • Outer London Fund sense of local pride. Local needs will also be influenced by the findings of the Outer London The Mayor’s Transport Strategy Commission, re-formed to address National level development adopts a ‘presumption in favour Accessibility Implementation Plan has issues such as town centre of sustainable development’, which is aimed been published, following a consultation development and the need for flexibility The increased level of concern over the state at reducing barriers to project delivery. It is period during 2011. It highlights in parking standards. of the world economy, and the heightened unclear what the outcomes will be in the sub- priorities for improvements in the focus on economic growth, is reflected in a region but transport policy will need to be physical accessibility in London’s Boroughs also have the opportunity to number of policies. responsive to changing needs. transport system. introduce borough CILs to meet local needs. The Chancellor has published a National The Localism Bill was given Royal Assent on The Mayor is setting up a London-wide infrastructure Plan which the Government 15 November 2011, becoming an Act. This Bill Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL). In order to ensure that economic growth hopes will help stimulate economic growth is intended to shift power from central CIL will be paid by most new does not come at an unacceptable cost and this included the Northern Line extension government back into the hands of individuals, development in Greater London to help to the environment and people’s quality through the Vauxhall Nine Elms Opportunity communities and councils. capture value of developments for of life, the Addendum also seeks to Area which is to be made into an Enterprise schemes to address growth impacts.