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Camberwell Transport Schemes Build on Long Record of Bus Dependence and Station Closures
Recent road alterations and station upgrades follow years of limited rail options and heavy bus use in the area.
How we reported this
Camberwell Station Road public realm improvements finished in summer 2024 after work began in winter 2023. The project added segregated cycle lanes, traffic calming measures and Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems along the street.
Origins in station closure and bus pressure
Transport challenges in Camberwell trace back to the 1916 closure of the original station, which left the neighbourhood without direct rail service for more than a century. Residents have relied on overcrowded bus routes as the main public transport option, a pattern that prompted the SE5 Forum to draw up a transport action plan focused on reopening Camberwell Station at New Road and widening footways through a Town Centre Scheme.
Southwark Council has also proposed making the one-way closure of Champion Hill permanent to cut through-traffic and improve safety in the town centre. Transport for London has kept the Camberwell Green safety scheme under review to track effects and plan any further changes.
Recent funding and specific upgrades
A £1.5 million grant from the Greater London Authority Good Growth Fund supported landscaping work on Station Road, conversion of empty railway arches into business units and better links to Denmark Hill station. Denmark Hill itself received a £7.5 million upgrade funded almost entirely by the Department for Transport, including a new entrance, an 85-space cycle hub and improved access routes used by patients at nearby hospitals. Eight new trees and Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems were installed on Station Road as part of the same programme.
Transport for London confirmed that proposed changes to bus routes 12, 45, 148 and 171 would not go ahead, preserving the 12 and 45 services for now. Camberwell Town Centre revitalisation work has included road alterations, widened pavements on Denmark Hill and safer crossings toward Champion Park.
Transport for London continues to monitor the Camberwell Green safety scheme for impacts and possible future adjustments. Residents can check the latest updates on the Transport for London website or contact Southwark Council for details on the Champion Hill proposal.