Crossrail 2 – Access all areas?

It is a truth universally acknowledged that improved transport accessibility helps build dynamic, vibrant cities. But as London considers embarking on Crossrail 2 and further improving tube and rail services, how will these changes shape the city?

At the edges of London, Crossrail 2 can help meet the demand for housing. The population of London is forecast to grow by a million people over the next ten years, and finding sites for new houses which are well connected to the core of the city is not easy. Crossrail 2 will transform this search. Current industrial sites in the Upper Lee Valley in the northeast of the city could be unlocked for many tens of thousands of homes. In the southwest, new garden suburbs are possible, providing a further boost to London’s supply of housing. Both areas will be just 20 minutes from the heart of the city, providing links to jobs and services. But these will not be just dormitory suburbs and masterplans are being prepared to ensure they become liveable communities. And it will not just be about new homes on new sites. The new, faster connections provided by Crossrail 2 will support denser housing near existing stations. This idea of “superbia” in the suburbs is based on denser housing leading to more active and vibrant centres away from the core of the city.

How will all this happen? The UK planning system does not make delivery straightforward. Current thinking is for Mayoral Development Corporations (MDCs) to be created with the implementation and planning powers to initiate the process. A relaxation of planning controls, for strategic industrial land, or even loosening of Green Belt controls, would be controversial for some, but may be necessary to fulfil the potential provided by the new transport capacity. Funding in the form of developer contributions and area-specific Community Infrastructure Levies would be coordinated by the MDCs to ensure that at least some of the value delivered by the new transport infrastructure is captured.

But what about the city between the suburbs? The introduction of Crossrail in 2018 and the increased number of tube trains delivered through TfL’s Upgrade plan is already beginning to change how London functions. Crossrail 2 and HS2 will further transform places like Tottenham Court Road, Euston, Kings Cross St Pancras and Victoria into “superhubs” served by a several tube and rail lines. These areas will continue to see changes as companies relocate to obtain the biggest catchment area for potential employees. This will all provide strong competition for the current economic powerhouses of the City, West End and Canary Wharf. In the market to be the global number one city, strong competition within London, can only help it stay on top.