Crossrail is thought to be close to signing a deal with Berkeley Homes to fund the station at Woolwich Arsenal, as optimism grows that the scheme will avoid significant cuts in scope

Berkeley Group and Crossrail staff were engaged in talks this week over the public funding contribution for the station box it is to build at Woolwich.

A source close to the deal last week said the two sides were now within 拢3m of an agreed funding figure.

The news comes as transport secretary Philip Hammond said there were 鈥渘o plans鈥� to reduce the scope of the 拢15.9bn line, although he did not categorically rule out such action in the future.

Separate Crossrail sources said they are now more confident that the prospect of major scope reductions had been averted.