At Hunters Forest Hill, we cover a lot of London, so we know the importance of getting around. We also know the importance of transport for the local housing market. Therefore, any plans that upgrade and improve a local station is of interest to us, and it is of interest to existing homeowners, prospective buyers, landlords and tenants.
A new look and better facilities are needed in local station
Peckham Rye Overground Station might be in for a new look, as Southwark Council has applied for £25m from the Levelling Up Fund. Local council staff believe the station is “long overdue” an upgrade, and one of the changes will be making sure it has step-free access.
Other likely changes include:
- Wider platforms
- Larger passageways
- New staircases and lifts
- New accessible toilets
- Larger entrances
- Improved access
Peckham Rye is currently the busiest interchange station in the whole of England which doesn’t offer step-free access to platforms and it doesn’t have accessible facilities for passengers.
The funding is available to all areas in the United Kingdom, but it is supposed to provide investment to places where it will “make the biggest difference to everyday life, including ex-industrial areas, deprived towns and coastal communities.”
Funding is vital for the plans to come to life
The upgrade has long been planned, even before this funding source was announced. There is still a chance that the project will take place without the Levelling Up Fund money, but another source of funding will need to be found.
The Mayor of London has pledged over £5m for the project, which will come from the Regeneration Fund.
Harriet Harman, the MP for Camberwell and Peckham, has written to the Chancellor voicing her support for the plans. Harriet Harman also said; “Levelling Up Funding of £25m will contribute towards a major and long overdue upgrade of Peckham Rye Station to ensure that it is fully accessible for all passengers. The project will improve access throughout the station, reducing peak overcrowding, through the creation of an additional station entrance and a new at- grade concourse, featuring two expanded gate-lines along with larger passageways throughout.”
Harriet Harman continued by saying; “Lift access will be introduced to all platforms and it will include the creation of an additional platform to eliminate overcrowding on the existing island platform 1/2 for improved passenger safety. Combined, these interventions will not only deliver a significant improvement to station accessibility and environment, reducing overcrowding and improving passenger safety, but together they contribute to a major new civic space at the heart of Peckham Town centre and underpin the regeneration of Peckham Town centre.”
At Hunters Forest Hill, we know selling property is challenging, but we are here to assist you in the process. If you aim to buy, sell, let your home or rent property, we are active in New Cross, Peckham, Dulwich and Brockley, in addition to Forest Hill, so get in touch with one of the top three agents in London, and we will be happy to assist you.
