Southwark has been awarded up to £10 million to improve local buses, alongside Lewisham.
Southwark has been selected as one of three London boroughs that will benefit from £30 million to improve its bus network.
Lewisham and Haringey in north London are the other boroughs chosen to take part in TfL’s Better Bus Partnerships programme.
The money will be divided between the boroughs over the next four years. The aim of the programme is to improve bus journey times and reliability, making services easier to use.
Each borough will receive up to £10 million from Transport for London, released in stages based on the progress of their programme.
To secure the funding, boroughs had to submit proposals outlining how they would use the money to improve bus services.
Eighteen boroughs expressed interest, eight reached the detailed bid stage and three were ultimately chosen. The successful boroughs proposed schemes aiming to cut journey times by up to 30 per cent.
The investment proposals include:
- New bus priority measures to improve journey times
- Better management of roadworks to reduce bus delays
- Bus stop improvements to make them more pleasant, safer places to wait and easier to change modes of transport
- Street improvements to make it easier and safer to walk to bus stops and stations
TfL will now work closely with the successful boroughs throughout 2026 on design and planning, with delivery expected to begin in 2027. Full details of the schemes will be shared by the boroughs in the coming months, subject to consultation and engagement.
Relatedarticles
Lewisham Council has already said it will focus on two corridors: north to south through Grove Park to Greenwich, and east to west through Sydenham towards Bromley and Southwark.
Councillor James McAsh, Southwark Council’s Cabinet Member for Clean Air, Streets & Waste, said: “We’re creating a cleaner, greener Southwark where it’s easier for people to walk, cycle and use public transport.
“Good bus services are vital in our borough where most households don’t have a car, and we’re excited to be part of the Better Bus Partnership.
“We look forward to working closely with our local community, Transport for London and neighbours to transform bus journeys in Southwark, as part of our wider Streets for People work to reclaim street space for community benefit.”
Councillor Louise Krupski, Lewisham Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Action, Transport and Environment, said: “We are thrilled to receive this crucial funding support from Transport for London. We are committed to making bus travel quicker, easier and more reliable for everyone. Almost half of our households do not own a car, so buses are a lifeline for many residents, especially in the south of the borough where there are fewer train connections and higher levels of deprivation.
“This really is a gamechanger. It will allow us to improve bus priority on key routes and make changing between buses and other transport easier, meaning people can travel faster and more comfortably.
“We’re focusing on two vital corridors – north to south through Grove Park to Greenwich and east to west through Sydenham towards Bromley and Southwark – to ensure our bus network works well for everyone. We are upgrading bus stops, improving connections with stations and enhancing walking and cycling routes to make them safer and more pleasant, while reducing delays on roads.”
The initiative, called the Better Bus Partnership, was launched by TfL in July 2024 to improve London’s bus network and encourage more people to travel by bus.
The money is in addition to the £80.85 million of funding already claimed by London’s boroughs this year from Local Implementation Plans – the ordinary financial support they receive to improve transport schemes from the Mayor.
Lorna Murphy, TfL’s Director of Buses, said: “Thank you to everyone who took the time to put bids forward. It is encouraging to see boroughs putting bus services at the heart of their communities to support sustainable transport for all and a safer, cleaner, greener London.
“I am delighted that we can work together with London boroughs to invest in bus priority and bus infrastructure. We now look forward to working closely with Haringey, Lewisham and Southwark over the coming years to deliver their bus schemes as part of the Better Bus Partnerships programme.”
