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DEVELOPING A METHODOLOGY TO CAPTURE LAND VALUE UPLIFT AROUND TRANSPORT FACILITIES
APPENDIX 4: THE CROYDON TRAMLINK BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The CTL is a light rail system and it was opened in May 2000, after over 12 years of development and construction. The system is already proving to be successful, with ridership having reached over 16 million passengers per year after the first year of operation. Patronage figures suggest that in descending order the busiest stops are East Croydon, George Street, West Croydon, Wimbledon, Church Street, New Addington and Sandilands (Figure A1). These stops serve both centres of shopping and business activities. Passenger demand continues to rise and local authorities and residents are keen to see CTL extended to other areas (Hylen and Pharoah, 2002). The three lines making up the system (see map below) extend to 28.2 km.
Figure A1: The Croydon CTL route
An initial review of potential CTL extensions has been prepared and discussed with interested parties. Transport for London is now carrying out initial development and evaluation work on the following new routes:
- Sutton Town Centre/Station - St Helier - Morden - Morden Road - Wimbledon and also Croydon (including via St Helier Hospital and direct routes and routing variants within Sutton Town Centre).
- Sutton - St Helier - Mitcham - Tooting (includes routing variants via Mitcham Junction and direct)
- Mitcham Junction - Mitcham town centre
- Central Croydon - Purley/Purley Station - Coulsdon)
- Central Croydon - Thornton Heath - Norbury - Streatham
- Harrington Road/Beckenham Junction - Crystal Palace (various route options)
Oscar Faber was commissioned by Transport for London (March 2002) to produce an impact study of the new Croydon CTL. Although the overall objective of the report was to understand the effect the system has on travel patterns in the area and to identify the general perceptions towards CTL, the study touched on the perceived business effects and property prices. This was achieved through a series of interviews in which estate agents reported increases in house prices in some areas that are now more accessible. The report continues to state "the office market has been relatively unaffected by CTL, although commercial surveyors have had there best year yet" (Oscar Faber, 2002).
References
Banister, D (2002) Transport Planning, London: Spon, 2 nd Edition.
Banister, D and Berechman, J (2000) Transport Investment and Economic Development, London: University College Press.
Colin Buchanan and Partners (2002) The Impact of the Tramlink on South London - Analysis of Property Prices, Report for the South London Partnership
Gielge, J (2002) Metro extension and urban development in Vienna, Paper presented at the TRANSPLUS Workshop, Dortmund, May.
Hylen, B and Pharoah, T (2002) Making Tracks: Light Rail in England and France, Swedish Research Board (VTI), Research Report 926A, p99, www.vti.se
Oscar Faber (2002) Croydon CTL Impact Study: Summary Report, Prepared for Transport for London.
Riley, D (2001) Taken for a Ride: Trains, Taxpayers and the Treasury, London: Inside Story.
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