Go ahead given for transformation of Liverpool Street station

Liverpool Street train station in London is set to undergo a massive transformation after officials at the City of London gave the go ahead to plans.

The green light was given to the project yesterday (Tuesday, February 10) by the planning committee of the authority.

The station was last redeveloped in 1991, and customer numbers have tripled over the last 35 years.

The proposals will futureproof Britain’s busiest station for decades to come, increasing customer capacity and creating a fully connected, accessible transport hub for customers across the capital and beyond.

Liverpool Street station currently connects 118 million people a year within London, East Anglia and the east of England.

With annual passenger numbers forecast to grow by 35 per cent to 158 million by 2041, the approved plans will ensure the station is ready to accommodate more than 200 million people in the decades ahead.

Since opening in 1875, Liverpool Street station and the City of London have developed in parallel.

The scheme will help drive long-term economic growth across the City of London.

Figures show the transformation could boost the City of London economy by up to £4.6 billion per year through increased visitor numbers.

The approved plans will deliver a comprehensive transformation addressing the station’s fundamental capacity and accessibility constraints.

Key improvements include:

• Overall concourse capacity increased by 76pc, with lower concourse space expanded by 23pc to ease passenger flow and reduce congestion;
• A fully inclusive station providing step-free access from street level to all platforms – including all London Underground lines for the first time;
• Eight new lifts, going from one four-person lift to eight large lifts;
• An increase in escalators from four to 10, allowing people to move freely between the street and the concourse;
• New landmark accessible entrances and more intuitive wayfinding, from Broadgate, Exchange Square and clear access to buses, bike stores and taxis; and
• Toilets on all levels, including family facilities and Changing Places toilets.

The scheme has been carefully designed to safeguard Liverpool Street’s unique heritage. The Victorian trainshed remains completely untouched.

The transformation will unlock new views over the Victorian architecture, bringing passengers closer to the heritage than ever before.

The infrastructure improvements are contributed to by a new office building with a publicly accessible roof garden.

The new office space above the concourse will be the best-connected and the most sustainably located in the capital, contributing towards the City’s growth ambitions

Ellie Burrows, managing director for Network Rail’s Eastern region, said: “This decision represents a key step towards the transformation of Britain’s busiest station and marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Liverpool Street.

“Our plans focus on improving the every day experience for passengers whilst respecting the station’s unique heritage.

“With annual passenger numbers forecast to grow to 158 million, this approval ensures the station will be future proofed for decades to come.”