The Minister for Transport, Wendy Morton, has indicated a positive step forward in plans to build Beam Park Station after Councillor Damian White, the Leader of Havering Council, wrote to her.

In her letter she clarified that the station needs to show that it can generate revenue over a continuous three-year period, and it will be for the Greater London Assembly (GLA) to fund the associated operating losses with an indemnity to be agreed.

The Minister also reiterated that this was the GLA’s project and must be consulted throughout the process.

The Leader of Havering Council, Councillor Damian White, said: “We have said all along, our plans have always been for a new station at Beam Park. Putting in this station will not only benefit residents, but also improve the local economy and support businesses.

“And because of this, we have been actively lobbying the Department for Transport (DfT) to help clarify their position on the station, and to look at how we can move this forward. I am really pleased to see that the Minister has confirmed in her response to me that they are not ruling a station out, and are waiting for the GLA’s plans on how it can be viable.

“Officers at the Council and the home builder Countryside have been supporting the GLA in providing the information required for this next step. We will continue to work with the GLA and DfT to secure a positive outcome to this.”