Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to safeguard Network Rail land while the final route for Crossrail 2 is being considered.

The Department for Transport safeguarded a section of the proposed Crossrail 2 route in 2015, stretching from Wimbledon to Tottenham Hale.

Our current position is not to update safeguarding directions before the outcomes of the Independent Affordability Review, Government agreement to a route, and public consultation on an update to safeguarding directions.

We have asked Transport for London and Network Rail to monitor potential development on areas which are not currently safeguarded which they believe might be required in future to deliver Crossrail 2. Officials are regularly updated and we keep the case for safeguarding under constant review to ensure the potential route can be protected in a cost effective manner.