An investigation has found there are no physical constraints to extending the Northern line to Clapham Junction, in a boost to the proposal.
Wandsworth Council said there are no engineering or geological restrictions that would prevent the London Underground being extended to the busy station, after completing initial investigations into the proposal.
Labour councillor Jenny Yates, Cabinet Member for Transport, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) the findings of the study will factor into any long-term plans for the area.
The major station, managed by Network Rail, is home to the Overground and National Rail services, but it does not have an Underground line.
Nine Elms and Battersea Power Station opened as the newest stations on the Northern line in 2021. Transport for London (TfL) previously said it designed these stations in such a way that would allow for a further extension to Clapham Junction in the future, although it had no current plans to do so.
A new report by council officers said extending the Northern line to Clapham Junction could attract more passengers, reduce overcrowding on existing services and support development in the area. It confirmed the authority has now completed an initial feasibility study into the potential extension.
The report said: “It is concluded that there are no physical engineering or geological constraints that would prevent the Tube being extended to Clapham Junction. A Tube service could attract additional transport users, ease overcrowding on existing rail and bus services and support additional development in the Clapham Junction area – at the same time a Northern line connecting Clapham Junction to Waterloo could replicate to an extent the service already provided by South Western Railway.
“Transport for London are also reported to be reviewing the safeguarded route for Crossrail 2 – land at Clapham Junction is safeguarded for Crossrail 2 and if Crossrail 2 were to be resurrected it would provide a direct rail link between Balham/Tooting, Clapham Junction and Central London.”
It comes as part of wider plans being drawn up for the regeneration of Clapham Junction.
The London Plan 2021, from the Greater London Authority (GLA), indicates the area could accommodate 2,500 new homes and 2,500 extra jobs, on top of the capacity for growth in the Winstanley and York Road regeneration area.
The council is putting together a masterplan for Clapham Junction to translate these policies into development proposals. It is working with stakeholders, including the GLA, TfL, Network Rail and landowners, to meet emerging targets for the area and to improve the station.
The report said: “The first stage of the work has been addressing the opportunity to resolve the station’s issues with circulation and capacity whilst also enabling better access across the railway from north to south for the benefit of both passengers and non-passengers.
“Conceptual crossings that can achieve this have been defined and agreed by the partners, and work is ongoing to establish the theoretical feasibility and viability of these options and their potential impact on Clapham Junction more broadly, with a view to engaging with the community in 2025.”
The authority is carrying out a public consultation asking for people’s views on Clapham Junction to inform the masterplan and identify whether there is strong local support for extending the Northern line.
Councillor Yates told the LDRS: “Clapham Junction is a thriving shopping, residential and leisure district and one of the key transport hubs in the borough. We believe there is even more potential that can be unlocked in the area and that is why we are working with the local community and key partners on a new masterplan.
“As part of this commitment we completed a feasibility study into extending the Northern line to Clapham Junction, and the findings of this study will factor into any long-term plans for the area. We want to hear the views of all the people who live, work or visit this part of the borough so that any future plans reflect local community needs and contribute to growth.”
