London Liverpool Street Station, one of the capital's busiest transport hubs, is set for a major £1.2 billion upgrade. The plans, approved in February by the City of London, now await final sign-off from Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan and Communities Secretary Steve Reed. The controversial redevelopment includes building a 97-metre (318ft) mixed-use tower block over the station concourse, which Network Rail says will make the Square Mile 'more pleasant to work in and travel through' and 'unlock new opportunities' for growth while improving connectivity.
Key changes planned for Liverpool Street Station
The station has faced overcrowding issues, causing difficulties for people with disabilities, those with luggage, and families with small children. Passengers have also complained of a 'confusing' layout, according to Network Rail. The upgrades aim to 'future-proof' the station for 200 million passengers annually in the decades ahead. According to Time for Liverpool Street, the improvements include:
- A large new concourse increasing overall capacity by 76%
- Eight new lifts to improve accessibility on Network Rail and London Underground platforms
- 10 escalators, up from the current four
- Additional ticket barriers to reduce wait times
- Improved step-free access across the station and London Underground
- New toilets and family facilities on all levels
- Better signage and larger entrances
- More secure bicycle storage
- A variety of cafes, restaurants, and shops
- New landmark entrances on Liverpool Street, Bishopsgate, and Exchange Square
- New covered space for passengers waiting for TfL buses
The proposal also includes a new five-star hotel operated by Hyatt as part of the adjacent Andaz Hotel. The office tower will be 'realigned to better reveal' the Grade II listed building.
Public reaction and opposition
More than 3,700 people objected to the plans, while over 1,100 expressed support. Network Rail insists the plans respect the station's 'unique heritage', but actor Griff Rhys Jones, president of the Victorian Society and the Liverpool Street Station Campaign (Lissca), called the announcement a 'sad day for the City of London'. He said: 'A disfiguring billion-pound office block on top of a major heritage asset is not essential to the City's development plans. It is doubtful whether it will easily provide the profit to “improve” the concourse, and can only realise a small amount of extra space for the passenger. Its focus is retail opportunities which the commuter doesn’t need. It will destroy an existing conservation area. It demolishes listed buildings. It is harmful to the surrounding historic fabric.' He accused the City of London of having 'bowed to developer ambitions, set a bad precedent for London and ignored the user'. Lissca said it has 'the backing of thousands of supporters' and will await decisions from the Mayor and, if necessary, the Secretary of State.
SAVE Britain's Heritage said: 'What a missed opportunity to consider less disruptive and damaging approaches to funding the station upgrades that passengers deserve. We will be carefully examining the committee’s decision and will consider our next steps.'
Official support for the redevelopment
Policy Chairman of the City of London Corporation, Chris Hayward, said: 'This redevelopment of Liverpool Street station is a major step forward for the Square Mile. It will support the City’s dynamic business ecosystem with state-of-the-art infrastructure, create new jobs and strengthen our position as a world‑leading destination, while ensuring that residents, workers and visitors all benefit from a modern, inclusive and future‑focused transport hub. As competition among global cities increases, we must demonstrate our openness to new investment that will enhance our urban environment and Liverpool Street station will now continue to do just that.'
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 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.'
Timeline and next steps
It is unclear when construction will start as the plans still need approval from the Mayor and the Government. Previously, developers said they hoped the new commercial building with shops and offices would be finished by 2030 if everything goes to plan.
