London Liverpool Street station is set for a major refurbishment in the new year.
Plans have taken a step forward for the revamp of the UK’s busiest railway station which has links to the Elizabeth line, London Underground and Stansted Express services.
Network Rail has unveiled its plans to upgrade the station because it sees ‘significant overcrowding,’ access is difficult for people with disabilities luggage and small children and that the station layout can ‘confusing’ for passengers.
The station – which saw 94,499,824 passengers last year – currently has just one public lift.
Here are all the changes coming to Liverpool Street Station if plans are approved.
Now Network Rail, in collaboration with ACME architects, has submitted a planning application for the City of London to decide on the final look of the upgrade.
The Liverpool Street, Bishopsgate and Exchange Square entrances are also set for an overhaul. Plans also set out more waiting lounges, a cycle storage with direct platform access and a tower office block.
The developers say the station’s ‘original Victorian architecture will be preserved and enhanced alongside a sensitive refurbishment of the Andaz Hotel.’
The redevelopment proposal also includes a new five-star hotel operated by Hyatt as part of the Andaz – a Grade II listed building next to the station.
To get the latest news from the capital visit Metro's London news hub.
London Liverpool Street is expected to remain open throughout the construction, Network Rail said.
However, not everyone has welcomed the redevelopment plans. Heritage campaigners, such as the Victorian Society and Historic England, opposed the previous scheme revealed last year which envisioned a 21-storey skyscraper.
Historic England bosses said the previous plan was ‘oversized and insensitive.’
The new proposal has reduced the height of the skyscraper by 10m, according to Twentieth Century Society campaigners.
A Network Rail spokesperson said: ‘After listening to a broad range of views, Network Rail Property is leading the consultation on new plans that will deliver significant improvements to public infrastructure for a best in class, destination station that protects the station’s heritage setting.’
When will the work start?
Construction is set to start in 2025 at the earliest.
The station upgrade will be ready around 2026 and the new commercial building with shops and offices in 2030 if everything goes to plan.
The station will be closed from Christmas Day until January due to unrelated engineering works.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
