Greg Hands MP, has welcomed news that plans for a Crossrail 2 station in the heart of Chelsea remain on track, following an announcement by the Department for Transport (DfT) on its latest safeguarded route.
The DfT has published revised plans which indicate that it agrees with the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea that Crossrail 2 should serve Chelsea with a stop on King’s Road. These safeguarding proposals ensure that other developments will not be approved that might compromise a future station construction.
The station will bring around 5,500 homes within a ten minute walk of the London Transport network for the first time, helping to reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality.
Greg Hands supports the construction of Crossrail 2, and looks forward to it bringing essential additional public transport capacity to London, and to Chelsea in particular. The new line will also bring very welcome relief to the District Line. Greg has previously supported the principle of a new Chelsea-Hackney underground line, now known as Crossrail 2, and continues to support the idea of a station in Chelsea.
However some residents are have expressed concern over the possible location of the new Chelsea station. In July, Greg attended the AGM of the Cremorne Residents Association to hear residents’ views on an alternative site for a “Chelsea West” station for Crossrail 2.
Greg commented “I note there is some opposition to each of the two sites in question, yet the community in general supports the overall idea of a station in Chelsea. I very much support having a station in Chelsea. I trust that TfL and RBKC will work together to continue to keep Chelsea residents informed about any further developments.”
The Royal Borough is a strong supporter of Crossrail 2, and has expressed a preference for a station on King’s Road in the vicinity of the fire station. Cllr Tim Coleridge, RBKC Cabinet Member for Transport said: “We very much welcome this announcement as one of the strongest indicators yet that the DfT agrees that a station on King’s Road, near the fire station, is the right option not only for the Royal Borough, but for the capital as a whole.”
Coleridge added: “For some Chelsea residents this news will be met with some trepidation about the impact of construction. I want to reassure them that as TfL develops its plans for the station and the line, the Council will press very hard to ensure the least disruptive possible method is chosen.”
TfL and Network Rail plan to start construction on the line in 2020, with it opening in 2030.
DfT will be consulting on the new safeguarded route in 2015 and more information is available here.
You can also contact the Crossrail 2 safeguarding team at: [email protected], call 0343 222 1234 or write to Crossrail 2 Safeguarding, Transport for London, 9th Floor Windsor House, 42-50 Victoria Street, London, SW1H 0TL.
Greg added: “I urge all residents who have views on this proposal to make a submission to the TfL consultation. I also encourage residents to copy me in on any submissions they make, or to contact me if they have further questions, so I can also hear their views."