Love them or hate them, Boris Bikes are here to stay and the number of bikes on London’s roads is set to increase.

Following the success of the east London expansion in 2012, which resulted in average weekday hires increasing by 50%, the Mayor of London has recently approved an expansion of the Barclays Cycle Hire scheme to south west London into parts of Wandsworth, Hammersmith & Fulham, Lambeth and Kensington & Chelsea.

There are around 15,000 docking points and 8,000 hire bikes currently in operation. The south west expansion, which will be implemented between late 2013 and spring 2014, will result in more than 2,000 new bikes and around 5,000 additional docking points being provided, almost half of which will be located to the south of the Thames.

The bikes have been hired more than 18 million times since the scheme launched in July 2010. Transport for London (TfL) has predicted that the south west expansion, along with the introduction of new docking stations within the existing area covered by the scheme, will lead to between 250,000 and 300,000 additional journeys being made each month. TfL has been working with the four London Boroughs falling within the expansion area to identify suitable sites for new docking stations. Planning permission has already been submitted for 30 sites in Wandsworth, while 15 sites in Hammersmith & Fulham have already been granted planning consent.

Details of the sites already identified in Wandsworth can be viewed here.

And the sites already approved in Hammersmith & Fulham can be viewed here.

The majority of the costs will be met by TfL and the scheme's sponsor Barclays, however, additional funding will be provided by the local authorities who will be seeking developer contributions where appropriate through S106 agreements to assist in providing the new facilities.

If you are considering new developments in these boroughs you may benefit from improved sustainable travel access, but be aware that S106 contributions may be sought if they are near your site, particularly for larger developments.

To view a map of the proposed south west expansion click here.