Third public consultation results for Northern line extension confirms strong support for Tube link

Results from the third public consultation on proposals to extend the Northern line to Battersea from Kennington via Nine Elms have confirmed very strong support for this potential new Tube link. The extension would kick start regeneration in the Nine Elms area of south London and create major transport benefits for passengers.

The consultation provided the public with the opportunity to view and comment on the Northern line extension proposals as a whole, in particular the two new Tube stations at Battersea and Nine Elms and the key sites required to build the scheme, which local people have repeatedly shown they are behind. Two previous consultations in 2010 and 2011 showed great support for the selected 3km route from Kennington to Battersea via Nine Elms.

TfL will now finalise these plans ready for an application in spring 2013 for a Transport and Works Act Order (TWAO) to construct and operate the extension.

Around three quarters of people responded with positive or neutral comments during this final consultation. The proposed plans, which are subject to a funding package being in place and permission from the Government, would help regenerate Vauxhall and Nine Elms and support up to 25,000 jobs and 16,000 new homes.

Transport benefits would include: creating Tube access for thousands of people, cutting journey times from this part of London to the West End and the City to around 15 minutes, reduced pressure on Vauxhall station and relief to the existing Northern line south of Kennington and wider access to leisure and employment opportunities for local people.

Over 1,800 people had their say between 7 November and 30 December 2012 by completing an online questionnaire or emailing or posting their response. In addition over 700 people visited the Northern line extension events held at venues along the proposed route and around 40,000 households received a detailed leaflet about the proposals.

Local people were asked what they thought about the extension in general, the two new stations and the special shafts that would need to be built to provide ventilation, cooling and emergency access.

Overall people welcome this potential new transport connection. In response to general comments on the proposals 48 per cent were positive, 26 per cent neutral and 26 per cent negative. The main response, made by almost half of respondents was that the extension was a good idea which they supported.

Michèle Dix, Managing Director of Planning for Transport for London, said: “I would like to thank everybody who gave us their views on the proposed Northern line extension.

“This third public consultation very much confirms that there is, once again, very strong support for this transport link that will help regenerate Vauxhall and Nine Elms and support up to 25,000 jobs and 16,000 new homes.

“These two new Tube stations at Battersea and Nine Elms will create access to the London Underground for thousands of people as well as cutting journey times from this part of London to the West End and the City to around 15 minutes.”

A number of questions and concerns about the impact of building a large piece of infrastructure were raised, which included the capacity of the Northern line and Kennington station, noise and traffic during construction and noise and vibration once the line is operational. TfL has very carefully considered these concerns and responses to key issues raised can be found at www.tfl.gov.uk/nle

If planning approval is obtained from the Government, and a funding package is in place then construction of the Northern line extension could begin in 2015 with the two new stations opening in 2020. Go to tfl.gov.uk/nle for more information about the Northern line extension and this latest public consultation.