拢30bn scheme was given public backing by transport secretary over the summer

View of inside of Crossrail tunnel

Source: Alamy

Crossrail 2 managing director Michele Dix is 鈥渙ptimistic鈥� the 拢30bn rail project will get the go-ahead from the government before the year is out.

In May, asenior figure working on the scheme claimed progress on bringing it to life had been delayed by the then upcoming general election.

Two months later, transport secretary Chris Grayling said he wanted London to fund half of Crossrail 2鈥檚 construction cost and along with the city鈥檚 mayor Sadiq Khan, agreed to re-examine ways to improve its affodability ahead of the autumn budget.

鈥淲e鈥檙e not just waiting, we鈥檙e getting on as though the answer is going to be yes and we鈥檙e ready for the next stage,鈥� said Dix. 鈥淏ut we can鈥檛 proactively do some of the things we need to do unless we get a positive decision.鈥�

She added that the real concern with any delay to a response to the latest business case from the government is safeguarding the land for the scheme to protect the latest options for routes such as going to Balham.

Dix also confirmed that Development Rights Auction Model (DRAM) financing model is also being explored.

Under DRAM, landowners and the public sector would pool land for development in areas suitable for high-density schemes that would then be auctioned to developers.

But landowners that held out would suffer compulsory acquisition, while the purchasing developer would benefit from exemption from S106 and CIL planning charges.

鈥淚deally you don鈥檛 want a CPO [complusory purchase order] [鈥 which is why the DRAM model is an interesting one as people voluntarily put their land in,鈥� she said.

The line will run from Wimbledon in the south to New Southgate, near Alexandra Palace, in the north, via a new tunnelled route in central London which includes stops at Victoria and Euston St Pancras.

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