REVEALED: DESIGNS FOR LONDON’S NEWEST PUBLIC SQUARE AT KING’S CROSS

Friday 22 Jul 2011

REVEALED: DESIGNS FOR LONDON’S NEWEST PUBLIC SQUARE AT KING’S CROSS

Region & Route:: National

Plans to create a new public space for London by the end of 2013 as part of the redevelopment of King’s Cross station have been unveiled today by Network Rail.

At more than 7000 square metres, the new King’s Cross Square will be 50% bigger than Leicester Square, opening up the space currently occupied by the 1970s concourse extension and revealing the stunning Grade I listed Victorian station façade for the first time in almost 150 years.

Architects Stanton Williams were chosen to work with Network Rail on the new square following an international design competition, attracting entries from more than 100 architects and urban designers from around the world. The square has been carefully designed to complement the area’s rich history and provide a modern, open space in the heart of London.

Alan Stanton, director of Stanton Williams, said: "King’s Cross Square is a unique opportunity to create a new public space for London and a response to one of the most exciting urban challenges in the city. The scheme will become a focal point at the heart of the wider King’s Cross development bringing together major urban and transport improvements."

Ian Fry, Network Rail programme director at King’s Cross, added: "The redevelopment of the station is well under way and will see a stunning and spacious new concourse opening in spring 2012. After the Olympics we will then remove the outdated green canopy in front of the station to create the space for this fantastic new square, revealing the original Victorian façade of King’s Cross station for the first time since the 1860s."

The designs for King’s Cross Square will be on display at King’s Cross station from Friday 22nd July to Tuesday 26th July and comments on the plans can also be made online at www.networkrail.co.uk/newkingscross.

The planning application for the square will be submitted later in 2011.

Notes to editors

The plans for King’s Cross Square will be exhibited in the station at the following times:

Friday 22nd July, 7am - 7pm
Saturday 23rd July, 9am - 6pm
Sunday 24th July, 9am - 6pm
Monday 25th July, 7am - 7pm
Tuesday 26th July, 7am - 7pm

Comments on the plans can also be submitted online at www.networkrail.co.uk/newkingscross.

Redevelopment of King’s Cross
Network Rail is transforming King’s Cross station into a world-class transport hub. A new glass and steel concourse will open in spring 2012, with three times more space than the existing area and better facilities. The project is set to complete in late 2013 and will see the existing green canopy stripped away, a new public square opened and the original Grade I listed Victorian structure restored and revealed.

In addition to the new public square, Network Rail has worked with partners to deliver other improvements to the local community:

Network Rail has given £1m to Camden Council to spend on improvements to the local area, including £750,000 to improve the pedestrian environment along York Way.
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.
Network Rail has also pledged to provide £175,000 to increase the number of covered cycle racks for the station. This will help to provide 800 more spaces for bike parking in the King’s Cross Central site in time for the Olympics.
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.

About the architects
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, all of which demonstrate the practice’s over-arching objective of putting the user’s experience of space, light and materials at the forefront of the agenda. Projects include: Tower Hill, the recently completed Sainsbury Laboratory in the University of Cambridge's botanical gardens and the Hackney Marshes Centre. Current projects include: the new Campus for the University of the Arts London at Kings Cross, the Stadtmuseum Berlin, the Grand Musée d’Art in Nantes and the Eton Manor site for the London Olympics 2012.

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