Keith Prince Challenges Mayor on Beam Park Station Future

Key Points

• Keith Prince, Greater London Assembly Member for Havering and Redbridge, raised serious concerns over the future of the long-promised Beam Park Station during Mayoral Question Time at City Hall.
• Beam Park, a rapidly growing area in East London spanning Barking & Dagenham and Havering, has seen thousands of new homes built or under construction, yet lacks a railway station, leaving residents reliant on overcrowded buses or travel to Rainham or Dagenham Dock.
• Residents were originally promised the station would be operational several years ago, but no confirmed timetable or funding plan exists despite planning permission for a ticket office.
• Keith Prince directly questioned the Mayor of London on funding sufficiency, stating: “Do you actually have sufficient funds to deliver the station? We have planning permission for a ticket office, it’d be nice to have a station to go with it.”
• The Mayor responded: “Obviously the money I set aside was then, now there are going to be increases now. We need to get this done.”
• Following the exchange, Keith Prince AM declared: “Families in Beam Park bought their homes on the basis there was going to be a train station. 5 years since the first residents moved in, there is planning permission for a ticket office but no plans for a station. I will continue to shine a light on this issue.”
• Keith Prince has consistently advocated that infrastructure must precede or accompany large-scale housing development to avoid leaving residents isolated from transport links and economic opportunities.
• He pledged to hold the Mayor accountable until Beam Park residents receive certainty on the station’s delivery.

Beam Park, East London (East London Times) January 19, 2026 – Uncertainty persists over the fate of the long-awaited Beam Park Station as Greater London Assembly Member Keith Prince confronted the Mayor of London at City Hall, spotlighting years of broken promises amid rapid housing growth in the area.

Why Has Beam Park Station Faced Delays?

Beam Park, straddling Barking & Dagenham and Havering, ranks among East London’s fastest-expanding neighbourhoods, with thousands of new homes either completed or in progress. Despite this boom, no railway station serves the community, compelling residents to endure overcrowded buses or journeys to distant stations like Rainham or Dagenham Dock for rail access. As reported in the initial coverage, residents were assured several years ago that the station would open, yet no firm timeline or funding commitment has materialised, even as planning permission exists for a ticket office.

Keith Prince, the Assembly Member for Havering and Redbridge, used Mayoral Question Time to press the Mayor on delivery prospects. He highlighted the mismatch between housing expansion and transport infrastructure, a recurring theme in his advocacy.

“Do you actually have sufficient funds to deliver the station? We have planning permission for a ticket office, it’d be nice to have a station to go with it,”

Keith Prince asked directly, capturing the frustration of locals who feel misled.

The Mayor acknowledged cost pressures, replying:

“Obviously the money I set aside was then, now there are going to be increases now. We need to get this done.”

This exchange underscores ongoing fiscal challenges, with initial budgets now strained by inflation and rising construction expenses.

What Did Keith Prince Say After the Question Time?

Post-meeting, Keith Prince AM reiterated his commitment to residents.

“Families in Beam Park bought their homes on the basis there was going to be a train station. 5 years since the first residents moved in, there is planning permission for a ticket office but no plans for a station. I will continue to shine a light on this issue,”

he stated. This follows his consistent stance that infrastructure must align with or precede major housing projects to prevent isolation.

Keith Prince has long argued against housing-led development without supporting transport. Without Beam Park Station, he contends, new and existing residents face barriers to reliable commuting and job opportunities, exacerbating inequalities in Outer East London. His pledge involves sustained scrutiny of the Mayor until clarity emerges on whether—and when—the station will materialise.

How Does Beam Park’s Growth Exacerbate the Issue?

The area’s transformation amplifies the station’s absence. Thousands of homes have sprung up across Barking & Dagenham and Havering, drawing families expecting promised amenities. Yet five years after the first occupants arrived, transport lags severely. Overcrowded buses dominate daily travel, while rail users must trek to Rainham or Dagenham Dock, straining local networks.

Planning permission for a ticket office stands as a hollow milestone without broader station plans. Keith Prince’s interrogation at City Hall revives scrutiny on how development pledges translate to reality. The Mayor’s response hints at budgetary revisions but offers no specifics, leaving locals in limbo.

What Are the Broader Implications for East London Residents?

Beam Park exemplifies tensions between housing targets and infrastructure delivery in Greater London. Rapid growth promises revitalisation but risks stranding communities without connectivity. Keith Prince emphasises that such oversights cut residents off from economic prospects, forcing longer commutes and higher costs.

His advocacy aligns with calls for sequenced development: transport first, homes second. The Mayor’s vague assurance—“We need to get this done”—signals intent amid fiscal hurdles, yet lacks the concreteness residents crave. As East London’s population swells, similar disputes loom in other growth zones.

Who Is Holding the Mayor Accountable?

Keith Prince, as Greater London Assembly Member for Havering and Redbridge, positions himself as the primary watchdog. His repeated questioning at City Hall demonstrates persistence.

“I will continue to shine a light on this issue,”

he affirmed post-session, vowing oversight until answers arrive.

This role extends his track record of championing transport equity. By linking homebuyers’ expectations to unfulfilled promises, Keith Prince personalises the stakes. Residents, initially lured by station assurances, now grapple with dashed hopes five years on.

When Was the Station Originally Promised?

Promises of Beam Park Station date back years, tied to housing approvals. Residents moving in around 2021 anticipated swift delivery, informed that rail access would follow. Instead, timelines slipped without public explanation, culminating in today’s void.

Planning permission for the ticket office marks progress, but as Keith Prince quipped, it needs a station to function. The five-year gap since first arrivals fuels distrust, with no updated schedule forthcoming.

What Funding Challenges Did the Mayor Highlight?

The Mayor’s reply pinpointed inflation:

“Obviously the money I set aside was then, now there are going to be increases now.”

Initial allocations, set pre-cost surges, prove inadequate. This reflects wider pressures on Transport for London budgets, squeezed by national funding constraints and post-pandemic recovery.

“We need to get this done,” the Mayor added, implying resolve but stopping short of new commitments. Keith Prince’s probe exposed the gap between aspiration and allocation.

Why Is Infrastructure Critical Before Housing?

Keith Prince champions prerequisite infrastructure for sustainable growth.

“Infrastructure must come before or at least alongside large-scale housing development,”

he has argued consistently. Absent Beam Park Station, residents confront isolation, hindering access to jobs, schools, and services.

This philosophy critiques developer-led expansion, where homes multiply sans support. In Beam Park, the result isolates thousands, reliant on buses amid rail deserts.

What Next Steps Has Keith Prince Pledged?

Keith Prince vows unrelenting pressure: “I will continue to shine a light on this issue” and hold the Mayor accountable. Until Beam Park residents gain “certainty and clarity” on delivery, he pledges vigilance. This includes future Question Times and public advocacy.

His efforts aim to secure not just a timetable but viable funding, ensuring promises convert to platforms.

How Does This Fit London’s Transport Priorities?

Beam Park Station slots into Elizabeth Line extensions and Overground upgrades, yet lags peers. East London’s housing surge demands matching rail capacity, lest overcrowding worsens. Keith Prince’s spotlight could catalyse action, mirroring successes elsewhere.

Residents deserve parity with better-served areas. The Mayor’s nod to urgency—“We need to get this done”—may presage movement, but scepticism lingers given history.