TfL plans for 10,000 new homes to be fast tracked by Mayor Sadiq Khan
Newly elected Major Sadiq Khan plans to fast track the development of 10,000 homes on land owned by TfL. TfL, which is one of London’s largest land owners, with 5,700 acres, is hoping to raise more than £1bn for reinvestment in the transport system by developing sites via joint ventures with 13 property developers, including Redrow Homes. The first phase proposed is for 75 sites on 300 acres of land, most of which are located on travel Zones 1 and 2.

A grand plan to create 10,000 homes on land owned by Transport for London is being fast-tracked by newly elected Mayor Sadiq Khan, who says housing is the number one issue facing the capital.

TfL is a sleeping giant of the property world. It is one of the capital’s largest land owners, with 5,700 acres — far more than the Duke of Westminster’s Grosvenor Group, for example, which owns 300 acres, or The Crown Estate, with 265 acres.

“We are awash with fantastic sites,” says Graeme Craig, TfL’s commercial director. “This is just the first phase, and we are reviewing our assets to see how many more sites we can develop.”



Mapped: the new plans for London's key transport hubs



Getting The green light in Zones 1 and 2

Much of this valuable space is occupied by railway tracks, arches and freight yards, but the portfolio also includes offices, shops and car parks.

TfL is expecting to raise more than £1 billion for reinvestment in the transport system. Rather than just selling the sites, it is forging joint ventures with developers and has chosen 13 partners, including major housebuilders Barratt, Berkeley, Taylor Wimpey and Redrow.

London's new homes with top transport links 1 / 18 London's new homes with top transport links Nine Elms, Battersea TfL is expecting to raise more than £1 billion for reinvestment in the transport system. The first projects will be at Nine Elms in Battersea, where a new Northern line Tube station is being built, and at Parsons Green, on land occupied by an old depot that has been derelict for decades. Earls Court, SW5 At Earls Court, TfL is in partnership with developer Capco, building 7,500 homes on 77 acres surrounding the famous exhibition centre, which TfL owns. (Scroll right...) Earls Court, SW5 Launching next week are duplex apartments with private gardens of up to 540sq ft designed by Chelsea Flower Show winner Andy Sturgeon. Prices from £1,435,000. Call 020 7381 9800. (Scroll right...) Earls Court, SW5 This partnership approach is welcome, says Peter Murray, chairman of New London Architecture, which promotes urban planning and design in the capital. “Often there is political pressure for public bodies to take the money and leave it to others to develop the land,” he says. 55 Broadway, St James's Park Transport for London’s own listed headquarters above St James’s Park Tube station, an Art Deco building featuring prized sculptures by Jacob Epstein and Henry Moore, already has planning permission for conversion into 89 apartments. Kidbrooke, SE3 Other locations include Harrow-on-the-Hill, Northwood and lesser-known Kidbrooke in suburban south-east London, where Berkeley Homes is building a new 4,000-home neighbourhood. TfL headquarters TfL also envisages a lot of private-rent homes as the locations are expected to be popular with younger people working in central London. The strategy chimes with a wider City Hall plan to create new districts around major transport hubs. TFLv2 London Bridge Quarter London Bridge station is being completely rebuilt. The Shard has helped catapult the area, previously a spillover address for City firms, to a new level. (Scroll right...) Matt Writtle London Bridge Quarter Derelict railway arches along Crucifix Lane are being opened up to provide links with Hay’s Galleria wharf fronting the Thames. Daniel Lynch Waterloo revival A City Hall vision for a revitalised quarter around Waterloo station, London’s biggest and busiest commuter hub, is also coming to fruition. Lower Marsh, Waterloo Dover House, a former hotel and restaurant in Lower Marsh, which has a street market and is attracting more upmarket shops and boutiques, has been refurbished and split into nine rental apartments. Call Savills on 020 3430 6870. Southbank Place Thirty Casson Square, the second phase of the 790-home Shell Centre project, has been launched, with two-bedroom flats from £1.2 million. Call 020 7001 3600. King's Cross Twenty years ago King's Cross was a sleazy red light district. Now 67 acres of what was blighted industrial land to the rear of the station form a stunning urban quarter. (Scroll right...) King's Cross Soon to launch is Fenman House, a 14-storey tower and linked podium building with 75 flats priced from £655,000. Call Knight Frank on 020 3691 3969.

Initially, 75 sites covering 300 acres are being brought forward. Two thirds of these sites are located in travel Zones 1 and 2, and the first projects will be at Nine Elms in Battersea, where a new Northern line Tube station is being built, and at Parsons Green, on land occupied by an old depot that has been derelict for decades.

Plans are also advanced for a redevelopment of South Kensington Tube station, where 20 townhouses are proposed on an adjacent strip of land alongside posh Thurloe Square.

Transport for London’s own listed headquarters above St James’s Park Tube station, an Art Deco building featuring prized sculptures by Jacob Epstein and Henry Moore, already has planning permission for conversion into 89 apartments.

Another 300 homes are earmarked above and around redeveloped Southwark station, along with a similar number at Bermondsey station.

Other locations include Harrow-on-the-Hill, Northwood and lesser-known Kidbrooke in suburban south-east London, where Berkeley Homes is building a new 4,000-home neighbourhood.

Change at Earls court

At Earls Court, TfL is in partnership with developer Capco, building 7,500 homes on 77 acres surrounding the famous exhibition centre, which TfL owns.

Launching next week are duplex apartments with private gardens of up to 540sq ft designed by Chelsea Flower Show winner Andy Sturgeon. Prices from £1,435,000. Call 020 7381 9800.

This partnership approach is welcome, says Peter Murray, chairman of New London Architecture, which promotes urban planning and design in the capital. “Often there is political pressure for public bodies to take the money and leave it to others to develop the land,” he says.

“However, if TfL adopts a long-term view and does not sell off the family silver, it could be a boon for the whole of London, not just for transport.” Crossrail, which when fully operational will be run by TfL, has shown there are enormous opportunities for “over-site” housing, even in tightly packed Mayfair, where flats are being built above the new Bond Street station.

The Northern line station at Nine Elms, due for completion in 2022, will incorporate 332 homes, including 84 classified as “affordable”, and a new public square.

TfL also envisages a lot of private-rent homes as the locations are expected to be popular with younger people working in central London. The strategy chimes with a wider City Hall plan to create new districts around major transport hubs.