A consultation is underway over plans to build a new rail link to a large housing development site in east London.

The proposed 4km extension to Barking Riverside involves extending the London Overground Gospel Oak to Barking line to serve a new station in the centre of the project.

Features of the project include:

• Up to nearly 11,000 new homes being built, many of which are affordable, along with a new school and healthcare facilities.

• The construction of a new district centre with commercial and leisure facilities.

• Four trains an hour to Barking where customers can connect with District and Hammersmith & City Tube services, and c2c services into Fenchurch Street station.

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The consultation will focus on a range of issues, including the amount of land required to build the extension, its operation and its proposed construction locations.

It is understood the Government will provide a £55 million load to support the project.

Mayor of London, Boris Johnson MP, said: "Barking Riverside is the largest housing development in east London, but without extending London Overground services it cannot reach its full potential. Our proposals for extending the railway line to this part of the Capital enjoy huge public support and will help to breathe life into a fantastic new community for London."

TfL's Managing Director of Planning, Richard de Cani, said: "This consultation is the last phase before we approach Government for permission to build this extension of London Overground services. This important new piece of London's transport network will help unlock the potential for almost 11,000 new homes to be delivered on the Barking Riverside site."

The consultation will end on Sunday, 24 January 2016.

For more information, visit here.

(LM)