ADD2837 DLR Thamesmead Extension: Social Infrastructure Study Budget Request

1.1.    In the 2025 Autumn Budget, the UK government confirmed support for the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) extension to Thamesmead (the DLR extension). This is expected to unlock delivery of 25,000 to 30,000 homes across Beckton Riverside (in the London Borough of Newham) and Thamesmead Waterfront (in the Royal Borough of Greenwich). 

1.2.    The DLR extension aligns strongly with the Mayor’s Delivery Plans for Building More Homes (Mayoral Decision (MD) 3378) and Making Best Use of Land (MD3434). It will deliver a significant number of new homes; and support the efficient use of brownfield land. The development of Beckton and Thamesmead is explicitly included in the Delivery Plan for Making Best Use of Land, under the Enabling a Step Change in Delivery workstrand. 

1.3.    The GLA’s Decision Making Framework allows Assistant Directors to approve non-routine spend up to £75,000.

1.4.    The projected population increase at Beckton Riverside and Thamesmead Waterfront is significant. As such, a corresponding expansion of social and community infrastructure capacity is needed. 

1.5.    The London Plan’s definition of social infrastructure includes facilities relating to: 

•    health provision
•    education
•    community
•    play
•    youth
•    early years
•    recreation
•    sports
•    faith
•    criminal justice 
•    emergency response.

1.6.    Funding for the DLR extension is expected to come from a combination of sources – including incremental borough Community Infrastructure Levy charges; business rates; and developer-negotiated Section 106 contributions. It is likely that social infrastructure will also draw on these sources. Therefore, work is required to keep refining and validating assumptions around social infrastructure provision, and associated funding requirements.

1.7.    MD3424 approved the GLA receiving funding from Homes England; and spending it on procuring a provider of deliverability work on transport-led residential development, associated with the DLR extension. A requirement of the funding was that it be spent by 31 March 2026. 

1.8.    Following budget approval, officers ran a procurement exercise with the support of TfL Procurement. This sought a consultant to deliver a social infrastructure study for each location. Work progressed on the study during 2025-26; however, given the scale and complexity of the work, the commission is taking place over two financial years. This means funding is needed for the work taking place in 2026-27; and further budget approval is therefore required. The work must be completed by the end of June 2026. This is to align with the DLR extension delivery timetable for submission of the Transport and Works Acts Order, and in line with Government’s expectations for the project. 

1.9.    This decision form therefore requests that the Assistant Director of Investment and Operations approves spending £20,000 from the Housing and Land operational revenue budget. This approval would enable the commission to proceed without delay. Funding is to be drawn down only if there is no alternative; or if more appropriate funding sources do not become available. Should alternative external funding sources become available, officers will notify the Assistant Director of Investment and Operations at the earliest opportunity, so that the approved budget can be released for other priorities.

1.10.    Previous spend on this commission was incurred in 2025-26. This was funded by Homes England, and accounted under Regeneration and Growth Strategies unit in Good Growth.

1.11.    Once spend has been approved, the work scheduled for 2026-27 will be triggered within the consultant contract. The study is due to be completed in June 2026.  
 

2.1.    This commission will support the delivery of the DLR extension. It will do so by validating and refining the existing assumptions on the funding and delivery approach for the associated social infrastructure. 

2.2.    The DLR extension will unlock housing delivery at Beckton Riverside and Thamesmead Waterfront – making best use of two of London’s largest remaining brownfield sites. The new extension will enable up to 30,000 homes; and create 10,000 jobs. The population increase means more social infrastructure is needed. This commission will support the continued development of a robust and well considered social infrastructure approach at both sites. This will underpin the creation of a strong, sustainable and inclusive community. 
 

3.1.    Under section 149 of the Equality Act 2010 (the Act), the Mayor and the GLA are subject to the public sector equality duty; and must have due regard to the need to: 

•    eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation and any other conduct that is prohibited by or under the Act
•    advance equality of opportunity between people who share a relevant protected characteristic and those who do not 
•    foster good relations between people who share a relevant protected characteristic and those who do not

3.2.    The protected characteristics are age, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, and marriage/civil partnership status. 

3.3.    The commission will help facilitate housing delivery in London. This decision is therefore expected to have a positive impact on persons with a protected characteristic under the Act. This is because increasing the supply of housing in London will help to address problems such as overcrowding and homelessness, which evidence indicates disproportionately affect specific groups, including Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic groups; and women. 

3.4.    The London Plan states that social infrastructure plays an important role in developing strong and inclusive communities. It can provide opportunities to bring different groups of people together, contributing to social integration and the desirability of a place. This commission will support the delivery of well-considered social infrastructure – ensuring that the needs of London’s diverse communities are met. 

3.5.    When procuring the chosen consultant, officers worked with TfL Procurement to ensure that the specification and the evaluation criteria considered diversity and inclusion.  
 

Key risks

4.1.    The table below outlines the key risk and mitigations for the expenditure:

Links to Mayoral strategies and priorities 

4.2.    The table below highlights the links to key Mayoral strategies and priorities:

Conflicts of interest

4.3.    There are no conflicts of interest to note. 

5.1.    Assistant Director’s approval is sought to spend £20,000 for the procurement of consultancy services to complete a study into the social infrastructure requirements associated with housing enabled by the DLR extension. This spend will be incurred in 2026-27; and funded from the Housing and Land 2026-27 Operational budget.

5.2.    As mentioned in paragraph 1.9 (above), should alternative external funding sources become available, the Operational budget will be released for other priorities. Receipt of new funding should be approved via the GLA’s decision-making process. 
 

6.1.    Approval will trigger the work for 2026-27. The study is due to be completed in June 2026. 

6.2.    The table below shows the full schedule for this work: