The London Borough of Bexley wants the DLR plan, announced in the budget to reach Thamesmead, to go further and stop at Belvedere.
The council said this would unlock housing and job opportunities and be greater value for money.
Council leader, Councillor David Leaf, has written to the government and the mayor of London, alongside cabinet members Councillor Richard Diment and Councillor Cafer Munur to highlight the potential of Belvedere which is central to a cluster of major development sites and hosts a large but poorly connected industrial area.
Councillor Leaf said: “We’ve been campaigning for years to get the DLR extended through into Belvedere and while the government re-announced in the budget the extension to Thamesmead, they must go further.
“Bexley has ambitious plans for economic and housing growth.
“These can be achieved and delivered with a clear commitment to invest in new infrastructure, including extending the DLR into serving our borough and bringing the Elizabeth Line through to Ebbsfleet.
“The government is missing an opportunity, and we urge them to get behind our plans.”
The letter, which also includes an invitation to visit Bexley, argues the upgraded transport link would directly support national priorities such as delivering housing on brownfield land, meeting London Plan targets and enabling the creation of higher-skilled jobs.
A DLR stop at Belvedere, which already has a national rail station, would strengthen the argument, with the potential for more travellers to take advantage of the rail interchange.
The council letter also questioned the value of building a tunnel under the Thames for a single station.
The letter warns: “Failing to take forward the extension to Belvedere would be a major missed opportunity which would negatively affect Bexley residents for years to come.”
Funding for the proposed DLR extension still needs to be agreed between the treasury and the mayor of London.
The council also renewed its call to extend the Elizabeth Line to Ebbsfleet, arguing it could transform a larger area and unlock even greater growth across the wider Thames Estuary.
Bexley has previously submitted a £4.5 million business case developed with other authorities and estuary stakeholders but is waiting for a response from the government.
The letter also states: “The London Borough of Bexley is ready to roll up our sleeves and build on the work already undertaken for both schemes – but we need government investment to do this.
“We urge you to demonstrate your commitment to unlocking growth in this part of London – one that has been overlooked by government for infrastructure investment for far too long.”
