Regeneration news
DLR extension approved: major boost for regeneration in the Royal Docks
The Government has officially approved the £1.7bn extension of the Docklands Light Railway (DLR), marking another major milestone for the Royal Docks.
This transformative project will see the DLR extended from Gallions Reach to Thamesmead via Beckton Riverside, creating a vital new north–south link across the Thames.
For the Royal Docks, this is a huge step forward. The extension will accelerate growth in the area, building on recent infrastructure successes such as the opening of the Silvertown Tunnel earlier this year and the arrival of the Elizabeth Line at Custom House in 2022.
Arada’s recent investment in Thameside West also signals growing confidence and accelerating momentum across the Royal Docks. The UAE’s fastest-growing master developer has agreed an 80% stake in this strategic 47-acre development site, which will create one of London’s largest waterfront neighbourhoods. Together, these investments are unlocking the next wave of regeneration and cementing the Royal Docks as one of London’s best-connected, emerging districts.
The DLR extension will dramatically improve travel times, cutting journeys from Thamesmead to Stratford to around 25–30 minutes and reducing trips to Canary Wharf to roughly 20–25 minutes. Two new stations, Gallions Reach and Thamesmead, will be added to the network, making it easier for residents, workers, and visitors to access the Royal Docks.
Fantastic news for London. It's something I have long called for, and will help create jobs for Londoners and help deliver tens of thousands of homes in London.
Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan
The DLR extension is also central to the Beckton Riverside masterplan, which has received the green light to transform the long-derelict Beckton Gasworks site. This regeneration, led by St William Homes part of the Berkeley Group, will deliver 2,900 new low-carbon homes, a 5-acre riverside park, and a mix of commercial and community spaces, alongside significant contributions for a new school and NHS health centre.
In total, the DLR extension is expected to create 10,000 jobs and unlock up to 30,000 new homes across the wider area.
Construction is anticipated to start in 2027, with the line scheduled to open in 2032. This will be the first major London trainline extension since the Overground reached Barking Riverside in 2022 and the biggest upgrade to the capital’s transport network in the next decade.
