The City of London has granted planning permission for the transformation of Liverpool Street station, greenlighting a massive overhaul of Britain’s busiest train station.
Network Rail announced this week that it has received approval for its proposal to transform the station, which has tripled its passenger footfall since it was last redeveloped 35 years ago.
The proposed renovation of Liverpool Street aims to futureproof the station for decades to come. Currently, the station connects 118 million people per year within London, East Anglia, and the east of England.
Annual passenger numbers are set to grow by 35% to 158 million by 2041, and the proposed redevelopment of the station will enable it to accommodate more than 200 million passengers per year.
With these plans now approved, Liverpool Street is set to increase its overall concourse capacity by 76%, with the lower concourse space expanded by 23% to ease passenger congestion.
Step-free access will be available from street level to all platforms at the renovated station, including to London Underground lines.
Eight new lifts will be installed and the number of escalators will increase from four to ten, improving navigation between the upper and lower concourses.
Toilets will be available on all levels of the station, and new, more intuitive entrances will be added.
Importantly, the approved plans for Liverpool Street’s redesign will preserve the Victorian trainshed that enshrouds the station, with Network Rail promising that the transformation will unlock new views over the Victorian architecture.
A new office building will also be constructed above the concourse. It will offer a publicly accessible roof garden and will be the best-connected and most sustainably located office building in London, Network Rail 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,” said Network Rail Eastern region managing director Ellie Burrows.
“Our plans focus on improving the everyday 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,” Burrows said.
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