Northern line could be extended to Clapham Junction in regeneration plans

By Charlotte Lillywhite, Local Democracy Reporter

Clapham Junction could be set for a huge overhaul as a council is set to investigate whether the Northern line should be extended to the busy railway station.

Wandsworth council has revealed a masterplan for Clapham Junction and the surrounding areas, including the Winstanley and York Road estate.

The overhaul hopes to create new homes, offices and shops for the area, and also promises a probe into whether extending the Northern line to Clapham Junction would make sense.

The masterplan would include new homes, offices and station improvements, according to a new council report. The authority would work with Network Rail, Transport for London (TfL) and other partners to create the masterplan.

The report says Clapham Junction station “presents long-standing challenges of congestion, severance and accessibility” and suffered from overcrowding at peak times before the Covid pandemic, with passenger numbers now increasing again.

It says upgrades are “essential to increase capacity, meet safety requirements and improve passengers’ public transport experience” – while ensuring there are safeguards if Crossrail 2 is implemented.

Network Rail began a makeover of the station in 2022 to slash congestion, including remodelling the Brighton Yard entrance, revamping lifts, building new shops and installing new toilets. The works are set to be completed in the spring.

A council report said extending the Northern line would link Clapham Junction to the London Underground and provide “significant new and improved journey opportunities”.

Wandsworth Labour vowed to investigate whether an extension of the Northern line to Clapham Junction was viable at the local elections in May 2022.

The authority’s executive will make a final decision on February 13.

Pictured top: Clapham Junction (Picture: Wandsworth council)