FINAL HURDLE REACHED AT KING'S CROSS

Tuesday 13 Nov 2007

FINAL HURDLE REACHED AT KING'S CROSS

Region & Route:: | Eastern

Network Rail today confirmed a multi-million pound package of local community benefits as part of the £400m transformation of King's Cross station. Following the receipt of planning consent in April 2007, Network Rail has worked with Camden Borough Council to agree a number of schemes as part of the wider development, which will deliver specific benefits for the surrounding area. The package includes: - Up to £6m towards the creation of a major new public square
- £175,000 for covered cycle parking spaces, to encourage cyclists to use the station
- £750,000 for Camden Borough Council to implement further local improvements in the surrounding area
- A commitment that 10% of the station's energy needs will be met from renewable sources, reducing its carbon footprint by up to 20%
- An aim for at least 15 per cent of construction jobs to be sourced from local labour Ian Fry, Network Rail Programme Director for King's Cross said: "King's Cross station plays a vital role in serving the transport network of Britain and its modernisation will transform it into a beacon for the local area.

"Our agreement with Camden Borough Council is the go ahead we needed to start work which will see local residents and businesses reap genuine benefits from investment into the station. By keeping regeneration and opportunity at the forefront of the development, a new King's Cross will bring more local jobs, be greener and deliver a better environment for the station and surrounding area." Andrew Marshall, Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Equalities and Community Development, Camden Borough Council said: "The redevelopment of King's Cross is one of the largest regeneration projects in Europe. It will transform King's Cross and the surrounding area into one of Europe's hot spots, an international business and cultural quarter.

"As a result there will be huge social, economic and environmental gains for the local area, including a large amount of social housing and community facilities. This supports our ambition to make Camden a leading borough of opportunity with job opportunities and commercial and community activities for all." Work on the agreed schemes is expected to begin immediately to meet the completion target of January 2012.

Notes to editors

Today's announcement follows extensive public consultation. The 50 million passengers who will use the station each year will benefit from an entirely restored, lighter and more attractive station. Improvements include: - A new 5,000 sq metre concourse - over twice the size of the existing one with new shops and restaurants- providing new integrated transport links with international and domestic services from St Pancras, as well as London Underground - A restored Grade 1 listed façade of the station which will be achieved by demolishing the 'temporary' current single-storey front to the station. The train shed and platforms will be refurbished and the roof replaced - An additional platform, increasing reliability and capacity at the station - A new open piazza in front of the station, larger than Leicester Square.

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We own, operate and develop Britain's railway infrastructure; that's 20,000 miles of track, 30,000 bridges, tunnels and viaducts and the thousands of signals, level crossings and stations. We run 20 of the UK's largest stations while all the others, over 2,500, are run by the country's train operating companies.

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