Lewisham Superloop bus route BL1 to Waterloo sees TfL consultation

Transport for London have launched a consultation for an express Superloop route between Lewisham and Wateroo following the route of any future Bakerloo line extension.

The “Bakerloop” route named BL1 would follow the general route of a tube extension running between Elephant and Castle to Lewisham however run a bit longer at each end.

Superloop route

The consultation – visible here – gives details of the plan and runs until 14 March.

Lewisham

The BL1 would start in Lewisham town centre rather than at the station as naturally a tube route would (if it ever happens).

The area below is the start point to be precise not too far from the library. Currently a bit of a building site due to major £24 million public realm works (see about that here), buses would depart for the clocktower then onto the station.

Lewisham town centre start point

This would serve a number of new developments as well as those planned in future, such as the rebuilt shopping centre with more than 2,300 homes proposed.

It’d also assist those moving to new homes near the station such as recently completed Lewisham Gateway.

New homes and shops beside Lewisham station

New Cross Gate

New Cross Gate

Heading past Lewisham and the BL1 would be non-stopping to New Cross Gate.

A stop here links with Southeastern and London Overground services. There’s no great housing scheme due here soon. Sainsbury’s did previously unveil a proposal for 1,500 homes on their large retail shed and car park but withdrew.

Besson Street site empty for many years.

Lewisham Council also have a substantial plot of public land they’ve not built upon for 16 years and counting at the Besson Street site.

A total of 324 homes are planned – one day – if Lewisham Council ever get moving.

Old Kent Road

Then it’s onto the section that the Bakerloo line is supposed to one day support in the building of 20,000 new homes.

A fair few of them are already underway at the southern end. Not too long ago I travelled along the road by bus to see how development sites were shaping up.

New builds to rear of Tustin Estate

In typical fashion the post is still on the “to do” pile but photos are to hand. One such site is the old Aldi supermarket.

The junction with Ilderton Road sees many plots underway now including along Ilderton Road itself.

New blocks at Aldi site

Other smaller infill sites around here include a plot recently covered on this site. It’s another that’s been vacant for many, many years.

Site as seen in August 2024

Notable recent completions in the southern part of the Old Kent Road include 267 student rooms on an old KFC drive-through.

Nearby sees a gasholder site with housing plans. The image below also shows another tower on Ilderton Road to the rear.

Gasholder site

Burgess Park

The next proposed bus stop is up by Burgess Park.

Up at this point some development is underway near the Asda site. This is a student site almost ready to welcome its first residents

View of new build

Berkeley Homes are also restarting a major site here located next door and known as Bermondsey Place featuring 1,400 homes.

Berkeley bought the land 11 years ago but have yet to complete a single home. That may finally change after being given a loan by government agency Homes England.

Elephant and Castle

And then it’s onto yet another major growth area at the Elephant and Castle.

Buses won’t terminate here but carry on to Waterloo.

Elephant and Castle

Major developments underway here includes homes and shops on the former shopping centre site as seen above.

Buses here will link with the Bakerloo line’s current terminus as well as the Northern line and Thameslink trains.

Then it’s a short hop down to Waterloo where the BL1 terminates.

Buses aren’t at extremely high frequencies with TfL stating operation every 12 minutes during the daytime from Monday to Saturday and every 15 minutes during evenings and on Sundays.

Courtesy Landsec. Lewisham shopping centre redevelopment plan

Clearly there’s scope to improve that should it be needed with mass development on the way in Lewisham as well as along the Old Kent Road and Elephant and Castle.

Buses are expected to commence operation in autumn 2025.

 

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J Smith

I've lived in south east London most of my life growing up in Greenwich borough and working in the area for many years. The site has contributors on occasion and we cover many different topics. Living and working in the area offers an insight into what is happening locally.

4 thoughts on “Lewisham Superloop bus route BL1 to Waterloo sees TfL consultation

  • I think this Superloop bus route (BL1) following the proposed bakerloo line extension between Waterloo and Lewisham will be the mote popular Superloop bus route compared to other superloop bus routes which will lightly used as people make more local journeys by bus so will continue to use existing bus routes which stops closer to their homes or where they are travelling too (Shops, Doctors Surgeries, pubs etc). So local bus services need to be improved too.

    Reply
  • I agree Graham we need to see mote express bus routes to the West End. The City, Docklands. London Ciry Airport, Heathrow Airport etc from across London.
    With a network of local bus service improvements by increasing frequencies on the busiest routes. Extending some bus routes to serve new developments, hospitals, stations. Shopping Centres etc

    Reply
  • Agreed. Mote express bus routes to Central London serving the City Weest End and over the river to Docklands.

    I would have liked to have seen an Express Bus Route from Bexley (Black Prince) to Docklands (Canary Whatf or West Ferry] via the new Silvertown Tunnel.

    Also an express bus route around the South Circular following route 122 between Thamesmead or Plumstead to Crystal Palace via Woolwich Westhorne Avenue, Yorkshire Grey, Lewisham and Forest Hill.

    Reply
  • A new Superloop bus route that could replace the Bakerloo Line extension. The Bakerloo Line itself is in need of a massive overhaul including new tube trains to replace the 1972 Stock.

    But seeing this as an alternative way to the Bakerloo Line extension could help if it gets the approval. But I still think that the Bakerloo Line extension will still get the go ahead.

    Reply

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