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Thursday 15 May 2025

Network Rail's application to transform London's busiest station validated by City of London

Region & Route:

Eastern: Anglia

Network Rail has developed a bold and collaborative vision to transform Britain’s busiest station, London Liverpool Street. The planning application for the redevelopment scheme has been validated by the City of London.  

The proposals would futureproof the station for decades to come, providing more space and creating a connected station across the rail network, London Underground, the Elizabeth line, buses, cycling and pedestrian routes while also delivering a fully accessible gateway for customers across the capital and beyond. 

London Liverpool Street 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% to 158 million by 2041, the plans will ensure that the station is future-proofed, ready to accommodate over 200 million people in the decades ahead, while enhancing accessibility for all.  

The plans are a first for Network Rail outlining a comprehensive and coordinated set of requirements to deliver a new and integrated station which have been developed with support from TfL. This approach is intended to serve as a model for how future infrastructure projects across the capital are managed.   

Sir Andrew Haines, Chief Executive, Network Rail said: “The station proposed in this application is absolutely what London needs. An accessible, inclusive, world-class multi-modal transport gateway to the heart of London - designed to serve the City, all Londoners, and everyone who travels through it. “  

Liverpool Street station no longer meets the expectations of passengers, and for some, the lack of step-free access and basic facilities makes travel difficult. The station already experiences heavy congestion at busy times, whether at ticket barriers, in the concourses, or moving to the underground and street level. Since the last major upgrade, passenger numbers have tripled. 

Andy Lord, London’s Transport Commissioner, TfL added: “Network Rail’s vision for the station gives us an opportunity to work together to provide the excellent levels of customer satisfaction we want everyone to experience as they travel across our networks. We welcome that these plans include a comprehensive step-free solution for those using the Underground. At the heart of these plans is an unshakeable commitment to safety, top-tier performance, and delivering a transport system for London that is not only efficient, but environmentally sustainable.”  

The scheme will help drive long-term economic growth across the City of London. New figures released by Network Rail show the transformation of London Liverpool Street station could boost the City of London economy by up to £4.6 billion per year1 through increased visitor numbers [1], a contribution comparable in scale to a 1p change in the basic rate of income tax [2]. 

Since opening in 1875, Liverpool Street station and the ‘Square Mile’ area of London have developed in parallel, each driving the success and evolution of the other. As the City continues to grow, it is essential that the station is modernised to meet the demands of a 21st-century transport network and continue supporting the economic vitality of both London and the wider UK. 

Network Rail has worked closely with TfL and other key stakeholders on the revised proposals, including Historic England, to ensure the transformation delivers a better customer experience alongside celebrating the heritage and creating a bold station interior.  

Newly released pictures of the proposed scheme show pedestrian routes to Exchange Square, Bishopgate’s Entrance, the lower concourse with access to trains, and the station balcony. 

[1] London Liverpool Street station Passenger Spend- Technical Note

[2] Direct effects of illustrative tax changes bulletin (January 2025), HM Revenue and Customs

You can follow the progress of the transformation plans via:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/time4lls

Instagram - (@time4lls) • Instagram photos and videos

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/time4lss

To view the application on the City of London website, please click here:

https://www.planning2.cityoflondon.gov.uk/online-applications/

The application reference is 25/00494/FULEIA

ENDS

For more information, please contact:

Email: media@timeforliverpoolstreet.co.uk

Images showing the scheme are available here: www.timeforliverpoolstreet.co.uk/media 

Network Rail, Catrin Sharp E: Catrin.Sharp@networkrail.co.uk T: 07717 763552                                                                   

Network Rail, Felicity Jump E: Felicity.Jump@networkrail.co.uk T: 07887 896411         

Shared Voice, Wyn Evans E: wyn@sharedvoice.co.uk T: 07909 974924

Shared Voice, Cherry Norton E: cherry@sharedvoice.co.uk T: 07946 358588 

Network Rail’s design and professional advisory team for the new scheme includes:

• ACME - Architecture
• AECOM – Multi-disciplinary Engineering & Environment
• Certo MS- Project management
• Newmark – Planning & Development
• Gleeds - Cost Management
• Donald Insall Associates - Heritage & Townscape
• GIA – Daylight and Sunlight
• JLL - Valuation
• AVR London - Visualisations
• SLA – Landscape Architecture
• Shared Voice - Communications & Engagement
• Intelligent Data Collection - Pedestrian modelling
• Mima Group – Accessibility & Inclusive design and wayfinding consultants
• Seam – Lighting Design
• RWDI – Wind Engineering
• The Boundary – CGI Views
• Plowman Craven - Surveys
• Sweco – Building Control Advice
• Addleshaw Goddard - Legal

City of London’s infrastructure needs

The City of London’s growth ambitions will require additional investment into the capital’s infrastructure:[1]

• Over 6 million people of working age can now access the City within one hour by public transport - 17% of the UK’s total working age population[2]
• The City generates £97 billion in economic output (Gross Value Added), equivalent to 15% of London’s output and 4% of total UK output[3].
• The City is home to around 22,500 businesses and attracts over 21,500,000 business and leisure visitors each year.
• The Draft City Plan 2040 has identified the need for a minimum of 1,200,000 sqm of additional office floorspace, the majority of which would be delivered immediately to the south of Liverpool Street station, in the City Cluster tall buildings area [3].
• The City’s plans aim to restore productivity growth to 2% a year, boosting the local economy by £107 billion and creating over 250,000 jobs by 2035 [2].

[1] London Growth Plan, February 2025

[2] City Plan 2040 – Offices Topic Paper, March 2024

[3] City of London, City Factsheet, March 2025