A proposed DLR extension running through Newham to south London is still at an early stage, according to Newham Council.

Transport for London (TfL) launched a consultation between February and March this year on plans to extend the DLR from Gallions Reach to Thamesmead via Beckton Riverside.

The transport authority has claimed up to 30,000 new homes could be provided in Newham and Greenwich boroughs from the scheme and add up to 10,000 new jobs.

A Newham Council spokesperson told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that the authority and its partners were still at an early stage of the extension project’s development.

They claimed a lot of design work was still needed alongside identifying funding sources for the scheme’s construction.

They added: “We welcome future discussions with central government on this, which is in addition to ongoing discussions with TfL, and our borough and private sector partners. We have not been formally asked to commit funding at present.”

Newham Council documents revealed last year that the construction of the project could cost up to £1.7 billion.

Greenwich Council has suggested that it may not be able to fund the proposed DLR extension to Thamesmead, with the authority negotiating with the Mayor of London in an attempt to bring down the bill.

The authority’s cabinet member for transport claimed the council was concerned about the level of money it was being asked to contribute towards the project.

Labour Councillor Averil Lekau, cabinet member for transport for Greenwich Council, said at a transport and place scrutiny meeting on July 25 that council finances could hinder the planned extension.

The cabinet member said that a business case for the extension had been put forward to central government and discussions were ongoing.

Cllr Lekau said at the meeting: “We are, I would have to say, being asked to front a considerable amount of money [alongside] Newham and both authorities are concerned that we would just not be able to do that, so we’re still negotiating with the mayor and the government to see how that goes.”