Building blocks
THE government is determined to sideline “blockers” that stand in the way of new housing developments – but one of these “blockers” is, er, itself. It takes way too long to build new stations on the government-owned rail network.
At least 3,000 homes are planned on brownfield land at Beam Park in east London. In 2015 the Greater London Authority and Barking & Dagenham council earmarked £10m for a station on the adjacent railway, which terminates at London Fenchurch Street. Planning permission restricted how many homes could be occupied before the station opened.