The Institute of Cancer Research, London, has welcomed the opening of a formal planning consultation on new proposals to take the tram to Sutton station as a stepping stone towards extending the tram to The London Cancer Hub site.
Transport for London (TfL) has published options for extending the Tramlink service to Sutton and is currently asking members of the public for their views on the proposals.
The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) strongly supports taking the tram to Sutton station as a critical first step to bringing it to the ICR’s site as part of the development of The London Cancer Hub.
The ICR has been working with the London Borough of Sutton and other partners to enhance transport links to the Sutton site as part of plans to create The London Cancer Hub.
Earlier this year, plans for The London Cancer Hub gained a major boost when Mayor of London Sadiq Khan committed to explore opportunities for bringing the tram to Sutton.
Possible future extension to London Cancer Hub site
The public consultation, which launched yesterday, now gives people the opportunity to state their support for the tram and feed in comments on their preferred route.
The ICR plans to submit an organisational response to the consultation, stating its support for the tram and stressing that it will be essential to take it all the way to the ICR’s site.
Responses to the consultation can be submitted via an online survey or via email using the reference 'Sutton Link'. The deadline for responses is Sunday 6 January.
TfL is also holding public exhibitions in Merton and Sutton to allow residents to find out more about the proposals and have their say. Events will be held in Sutton on Saturday 10 November, Thursday 15 November, Tuesday 20 November and Thursday 22 November.
'We need major investments in transport infrastructure'
Professor Paul Workman, Chief Executive of The Institute of Cancer Research, London, said:
“We’re very pleased that TfL are now formally consulting on extending the tram to Sutton. Taking the tram to Sutton station is a vital first step to bringing it to our Sutton site itself to support the development of The London Cancer Hub.
“The London Cancer Hub will create more than 13,000 new jobs and drive the discovery of exciting new cancer treatments. To make the hub a reality we need major investments in transport infrastructure, and a key part of that is the tram.
“We hope as many people as possible respond to TfL’s consultation. We are strongly supportive of the plans to take the tram to Sutton station and are keen that it is then further extended as soon as is feasible to the site of The London Cancer Hub."
The London Cancer Hub will be a global centre for cancer innovation providing state-of-the-art facilities and delivering real benefits for patients.
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London Cancer Hub to be world-leading life-science campus
The London Cancer Hub aims to be a global centre for cancer innovation, bringing together scientists, doctors, innovative companies, patients and the local community.
It is a partnership between the London Borough of Sutton and The Institute of Cancer Research, London, working with the support of The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, The Mayor of London and Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust.
The London Cancer Hub promises to be a world-leading life-science campus anchored by new research buildings, restaurants and hotel accommodation, and co-located with hospital facilities of The Royal Marsden. It is set to create 13,000 jobs while contributing more than £1 billion to the UK economy each year.
The project will accelerate progress in making the discoveries that will defeat cancer – enabling the ICR to discover more cancer drugs, and alongside its hospital partner, The Royal Marsden, increase the chances that they will be successfully developed for patients.
The Hub will be developed on the Sutton site of the ICR and The Royal Marsden, and is ultimately intended to cover 280,000 square metres.