Bus services in three key London boroughs are set for a major transformation after securing a multi-million pound cash injection from Transport for London (TfL).
The funding, part of the Better Bus Partnerships (BBP) programme, aims to significantly improve journey times and reliability for thousands of passengers.
Multi-Million Pound Investment Details
Haringey, Lewisham, and Southwark will each receive up to £10 million in TfL funding. This money will be allocated over a staggered four-year period to support both infrastructure enhancements and operational improvements.
Planned work includes better management of roadworks, revamping station concourses, and upgrading bus stops. The overarching goal of these selected schemes is an ambitious reduction in bus journey times by up to 30 per cent.
TfL will collaborate with the successful boroughs throughout 2026 on design and planning phases, with physical delivery of the improvements expected to commence in 2027.
Community Focus and Borough-Specific Plans
Before any changes are finalised, multiple rounds of consultation and community engagement will take place, ensuring local residents have their say.
Lorna Murphy, TfL's Director of Buses, expressed her enthusiasm, stating: "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."
In Lewisham, where almost half of households do not own a car, the funding has been hailed as a "gamechanger". Councillor Louise Krupski, Lewisham Council's Cabinet Member for Climate Action, Transport and Environment, emphasised that buses are a lifeline, particularly in the south of the borough. The council will focus on improving two vital corridors: north to south through Grove Park to Greenwich, and east to west through Sydenham towards Bromley and Southwark.
Whilst detailed plans are still in development, Haringey Council confirmed it will use its share of the funding to support the "comprehensive regeneration" of Wood Green, Tottenham, and Green Lanes, with more details to be released in due course.
A Broader Push for Better Transport
The BBP programme, first launched in July 2024, invited proposals from London's boroughs to improve travel times and accessibility. This new funding is in addition to the £80.85 million of Local Implementation Plan funding already claimed by boroughs this year for projects enhancing walking, cycling, and improving air quality.
This coordinated investment marks a significant step forward in making London's bus network faster, more reliable, and better integrated for the communities that depend on it most.
