New findings show the vast majority of Londoners living and working along TfL’s proposed Bakerloo Line Upgrade and Extension route (from Harrow to Bromley) are in support, with 76% of residents and 89% businesses in favour of the proposals and only 1% of residents and 2% businesses in opposition.
Working alongside Southwark Council, Lewisham Council and Business for Bakerloo, Central London Forward commissioned population polling and business surveys to understand the level of support there is for the Bakerloo Line Upgrade and Extension project within the communities along the line and businesses across London. The below table details the key methodological information for both surveys.
The key findings of the results are:
- The Bakerloo Line Upgrade and Extension is expected to inject £1.5bn in GVA per year into the national economy. 63% of London’s businesses agreed that the project’s delivery would increase growth and over half (52%) said it would improve their chances of expanding their business in the future.
- It is clear the capital’s businesses feel that a lack of connectivity between the North West and South East is holding them back and limiting London’s growth prospects.
- The project will also support 150,000 jobs across the full length of line and enhance connectivity for nearly half (48%) of those living in the top 30% most deprived areas in England.
- Over a third of businesses (38%) said the Bakerloo Line Upgrade and Extension would make recruitment easier and around half of residents feel it would improve their ability to travel to work (57%) and access to new employment (45%).
- With the extension expected to make 1.2 million more of the existing jobs along the length of the line accessible to residents within 45 minutes of Catford, this project will breakdown economic barriers faced by those in South East London who have been excluded from the London Underground Service for too long.
- This project will not only transform the lives of those living in the extension boroughs but the upgrade portion of the line too. There is consistent support from residents and businesses from Harrow to Bromley and across Central London with only 11% between the lowest and highest support levels.
- It is clear that Londoners living, working and running businesses north of Elephant & Castle want to see an upgrade in the quality of their transport and better connectivity into the South East too.
- Renewing the line and replacing its 50-year-old rolling stock will also increase public transport capacity by 150,000 trips daily. With 45% of residents telling us they would consider leaving their car at home for more journeys as a result, this project has the potential to accelerate the UK’s journey to net zero.
View the full results for the resident polling and business polling.
Please see below further information on methodology and graphics representing some of the results for each borough.
