Wednesday 28 Sep 2011
PLANS SUBMITTED FOR LONDON'S NEWEST PUBLIC SQUARE AT KING'S CROSS
- Region & Route:
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The transformation of King’s Cross station has taken another step forward after detailed plans for a new public square were submitted.
The application by Network Rail for a new public space in front of the station comes at the end of a four year design process which ended in July when more than 4,500 people took part in a public consultation on the proposals.
The new design by architects Stanton Williams incorporates more trees than the original and a combination of traditional Yorkstone and granite paving. To complement the University of the Arts London moving into King’s Cross, an area suitable for displaying large-scale art installations has also been identified.
Ian Fry, Network Rail’s programme director at King’s Cross said: “When designing a square which will be used by 140,000 people every day, it was vital to get as much public input as possible. We received many positive comments about our proposals and considered every suggestion to see if there were other details we could include. Stanton Williams’ imaginative scheme deftly resolves several complicated challenges and constraints on the space. The result is a high quality open space, which allows the magnificent Grade I listed Victorian Lewis Cubbitt station façade to take centre stage”.
The completion of the square in 2013 will reveal the Victorian grade I listed station façade for the first time in 150 years. At more than 7,000 square metres the square will be 50% bigger than Leicester Square and will open up the space currently occupied by the 1970s concourse extension.
Network Rail is transforming King’s Cross station into a world-class transport hub and the square will mark the end of a complete redevelopment of King’s Cross station. Once completed, the station will be able to accommodate 10m more passengers than today and the first phase of the project will complete in March 2012 when a new glass and steel concourse, providing three times more space than the existing area, will be opened.
Notes to editors
The majority of the station redevelopment, including a new concourse to the west of the station will be completed in time for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games with the transformation complete by 2013. The scheme to upgrade the station includes integrated transport links with international and domestic services from St Pancras and the London Underground; full restoration of the 270m long Victorian roof and; an additional platform increasing reliability and capacity at the station which opened in 2010.
In addition to the new public square, Network Rail has worked with partners to deliver other improvements to the local community:
- The equivalent of almost 400 jobs will be created as a result of this work and Network Rail is working with surrounding local authorities to support training and employment for people in the local community.
- King’s Cross has been identified by the Mayor’s London Plan as an area of potential growth. Network Rail is working closely with local authorities and neighbouring developers (London and Continental Railways and Argent plc) so that plans for the station support this wider development. Network Rail will also support a number of local community groups throughout this project.
- Camden council has secured from Network Rail, as part of the planning permission, £1m to spend on improvements to the local area, including £750,000 to improve the pedestrian environment along York Way.
- Camden council has secured from Network Rail, as part of the planning permission £175,000 to increase the number of covered cycle racks for the station.
About Stanton Williams
Stanton Williams is an award winning international architectural practice based in London. The firm has developed its portfolio from an initial focus on museums and galleries towards a wide variety of projects, including Tower Hill, Millennium Seedbank and the new University of the Arts London campus for Central Saint Martins at King’s Cross. For further information about Stanton Williams please contact: Meike Stockmann, Marketing & Communications Manager, T: 020 7880 6453, E: m.stockmann@stantonwilliams.com
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