Around 250,000 new homes could be delivered in London if they are built over railway tracks, according to new research.

A report by WSP, titled 'Out of thin air', states Rail Overbuild can help London meet its housing target of building 50,000 new homes every year until 2025.

The consultancy was appointed by Network Rail in 2012 to undertake a generic feasibility study on rail overbuild in Transport for London's (TfL) fare zones 1-6, identifying available land of 10 metres on both sides of the existing tracks.

The report found this would allow 100m² apartments to be developed in buildings 12-storeys tall, and if a conservative 10% of this is built, a total of 250,969 homes are possible.

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Bill Price, WSP director, said: "We have to be more creative in using existing space in what remains a relatively low-rise city. The air rights above rail tracks present an unrealised but significant opportunity to build more new homes on brownfield land. It's important to emphasise the engineering is absolutely possible and not new.

"We have been working on projects of this nature in New York for decades. Right now in London we are working on a variety of projects that rise above rail lines including a 50-storey residential tower, homes above a new Crossrail station and even a Premier League stadium.

"There is a wider point about how we can better connect communities and unlock new homes not just above rail lines but adjacent to them as well. In some parts of London rail lines act as accidental segregators. By 'decking' over these lines, such as the proposed regeneration west of Earls Court underground station, we can join together sites to unlock an even higher number of new homes and create new vibrant communities."

To download the report, click here.

(LM)