The works, set to begin on 17 February 2025, are expected to be completed by spring 2027, providing a more comfortable and accessible travel experience for all.
Residents, workers, and students in Waltham Forest will soon benefit from major improvements to Leyton Underground Station, as work begins this month on a significant upgrade aimed at improving accessibility and capacity. The project, a joint effort between Transport for London (TfL), the Department for Transport (DfT), and Waltham Forest Council, will install new lifts, build two new staircases and a bridge, and upgrade the ticket hall.
Preliminary work for the long-awaited project started in December 2024, with the main construction works set to begin on 17 February 2025. The project is expected to take approximately two years to complete, with the station set to be fully upgraded by spring 2027. This ambitious development will provide modern, accessible facilities for everyone, particularly benefiting those with mobility issues, parents with buggies, and older residents who have long faced barriers to using the station.
Cllr Clyde Loakes MBE, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Climate and Air Quality at Waltham Forest Council, spoke enthusiastically about the benefits of the project, stating: “It’s great to see the benefits of housing growth being invested in critical local infrastructure such as Leyton Tube station, especially as we have been calling and lobbying for this upgrade for some 20 years. Waltham Forest has long championed active and sustainable travel, and our work is already helping to make residents healthier and the air we breathe cleaner, as we continue to make it easier and more convenient to leave the car at home.”
The station will remain open throughout the construction works, with the exception of a few planned weekend closures scheduled halfway through the programme. These closures will be communicated well in advance to ensure commuters can plan alternative routes. The upgrade, which will provide step-free access for the first time, is expected to make a big difference for those who struggle with the current lack of accessibility at the station.
Cllr Loakes added, “The council has made a long-standing commitment to the residents of Leyton and the south of the borough to improve public transport links in the area. Currently, there are no stations in the south of the borough with step-free access, which puts disabled people, parents with buggies, and older residents at a huge disadvantage. That’s why the council has contributed £9m as part of this collaboration to ensure the station is accessible for all customers.”
The funding for the upgrade is a collaboration between Waltham Forest Council, the Government, and TfL. The contract to carry out the upgrade works has been awarded to TWBN, a joint venture between Taylor Woodrow and BAM Nuttall. Leyton station, which serves the Central line, is expected to see a significant increase in footfall due to new housing developments in the area. Two thousand new homes are already being built near the station, with a further 5,300 proposed, which will further increase demand for transport.
The upgraded station will not only provide a more comfortable and welcoming environment for commuters but will also support the growth of public transport usage in the area. This project aligns with the council’s wider commitment to sustainability, including efforts to make Waltham Forest a net-zero borough by 2030. Sustainability initiatives for the station include improvements to drainage systems, the recycling of excavation materials, and the use of ultra-low-carbon building materials during construction.
This station upgrade is also seen as a crucial part of the local infrastructure’s ongoing development, which will further contribute to the borough’s long-term growth and accessibility. Cllr Loakes concluded: “This is great news for Waltham Forest and a vote of confidence in our track record of success in delivering changes that deliver real benefits for everyone who lives, works, or studies here.” The works come at an exciting time for the area, as it prepares to welcome Manchester City fans to the nearby Gaughan Group Stadium for an upcoming FA Cup fixture, highlighting the importance of the station upgrade in supporting both local residents and visitors.
