TfL confirms Surrey Canal London Overground station initial design work complete - and possible timescale

A new south London Overground station may be in-place by the mid-to-late 2020s, more than a decade after it was first proposed.

Transport for London (TfL) has confirmed to LondonWorld that initial design work on Surrey Canal station is complete, and that it is in discussions with government over further funding.

Plans for the new London Overground stop in Surrey Canal Road, between Bermondsey and Deptford, were first conceived as part of the extension of the line through south London in the early 2010s.

Funding issues meant the station was not included in the new route, which was completed in 2012, though provision was left for it to be added at a later date.

Flash forward to December 2021, and Lewisham Council approved a request from TfL to finish the work. It was to be funded via the government’s Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF), used to pay for transport projects which enable the construction of new homes.

TfL had developed this up to the stage of concept design, though had to pause again in July 2022 as the government undertook a national review of the money committed via the HIF.

Now, in response to a Freedom of Information (FoI) request, TfL confirmed it has completed its initial stages of design on the new station, and is working with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) and Department for Transport (DfT) to “explore funding options for the next stage of work”.

This would include the formal planning application process, detailed design work and construction, it adds.

“We are also working hard to secure funding from a range of other sources, including contributions from developers, to support this work,” the response continues. “As we have not yet secured a full funding package, we are unable to provide further details regarding timescales at this time.”

David Rowe, TfL’s director of investment delivery planning, told LondonWorld: “We have completed the initial stages of design for the proposed Surrey Canal station which was funded by the DLUHC. We have not currently secured a full funding package for the delivery of the new station but we are looking at options to deliver this with DLUHC as well as considering a range of other funding options which includes developer contributions.  

“The new station would improve access for existing residents and businesses and serve over 5,000 planned new homes along with a wide range of new commercial, community and leisure space.”

A TfL spokesperson added that, subject to funding and other conditions, the new station could be in place by the mid to late 2020s.

Asked about the ongoing funding negotiations, a DfT spokesperson pointed to agreements already reached with TfL, including a longer-term settlement in August 2022 providing the transport authority with just under £1.2bn until the end of March 2024.

They added the government “continually engages” with TfL on its long-term plans.

The DLUHC was approached for comment.

TfL is also looking at potentially adding London Bridge to the Overground network to ease overcrowding at peak hours.

It is one of two options being considered, unveiled following a written question from Lewisham Council raising concerns about the capacity at Brockley station.