Transport News
New Transport Interchange Planned For Barking
A new state-of-the-art transport interchange is being planned for Barking town centre with Atkins Urban Design currently in the middle of putting together a master plan for the development. The new transport hub will provide much faster links between east London and the centre of the capital, whilst offering huge opportunities for the surrounding area.
Approximately 30,000 passengers pass through Barking station every day and upgrades to the transport infrastructure are vital for the area's regeneration plans. In collaboration with Grimshaw Architects and Savills, Atkins has investigated options for the station that will increase capacity and provide better facilities for new commuters from the 9,000 new homes which are planned to be built locally.
As part of the area's regeneration plans, the station upgrade will provide easy access to and from Barking as well as rapid connections to central London, a key concern for people both living and working in the area.
Aman Dalvi, Chief Executive, Gateway to London, said: "As Barking becomes increasingly well connected, our team anticipate working on quite a few relocations to the area."
The local community will take part in a series of public consultation events and will be given the opportunity to comment on the emerging masterplan before it is adopted as a Supplementary Planning Document.
City Airport Expansion Plans Take Off!
As a result of the London Borough of Newham this week giving it the go-ahead for a 50 per cent increase in flights, one thousand jobs will be created at London City Airport.
Gateway to London welcomes the news as in addition to providing local employment, the airport will attract business travellers to the region and will now be better able to serve visitors in the run-up to the 2012 Olympics. London City Airport currently handles 80,000 flights a year, but this will now rise to 120,000.
London City Airport is the UK's leading business airport with 10 airlines serving 33 destinations across the UK and Europe and connections to the rest of the world through major European cities.
Setback For Vital Dagenham Dock DLR Extension
This week the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) has requested that the Department for Transport (DfT) delay the start of the Public Inquiry into the proposed extension of its network to Dagenham Dock. It cited needing ‘time to clarify the situation with the Government in relation to funding for the extension' as the reason for the delay.
The proposed Dagenham Dock Extension route runs from Gallions Reach on the DLR Canning Town to Beckton route and would provide a lifeline for local businesses. The DLR extension to Dagenham Dock could transform the prosperity of businesses in this part of London Thames Gateway by giving them increased access to the diverse local labour pool, customers and suppliers.
Gateway to London is hugely disappointed at this delay. This is a vital piece of infrastructure, and Gateway to London will be working with partners to influence getting the project back on track for businesses and local residents.
The Inquiry into the proposed Dagenham Dock Extension was due to start on 4 November 2008 and DLR applied to the Department for Transport for this delay on 7 October 2008.
