TRAMS will be running to Crystal Palace by the end of the decade, according to Mayor of London Boris Johnson.
He confirmed the plans for the extension at a Conservative party fundraiser held in Selsdon on Tuesday.
Mayor Johnson told the local Tories the proposals for the new line now had formal approval from Transport for London commissioner, Peter Hendy.
But he said he was unable to lay down a firm timeline for when the work would take place on the much-vaunted and delayed extension.
Mike Fisher, leader of Croydon Council, said: "The mayor couldn't be specific on dates but he was absolutely confident it would happen by the end of this decade.
"This is good news. We have always supported an extension of the trams to Crystal Palace and other areas such as Purley and Sutton as a cost-effective way of moving large numbers of people without resorting the cost of heavy rail or the Underground."
