The City of London Corporation approved a £1.2 billion redevelopment plan for Liverpool Street Station on Tuesday, paving the way for a major overhaul of Britain’s busiest railway station. The decision follows a contentious period marked by over 3,700 objections to the scheme, primarily centered on the construction of a 19-storey office block above the station concourse.
Network Rail’s proposals aim to modernize the Grade II-listed station, increasing concourse capacity by 76% and providing step-free access to all platforms, including those serving London Underground lines. The project also includes upgraded passenger facilities such as more ticket barriers, wider platforms, additional escalators and lifts, and expanded lounges and restrooms. The upgrades are intended to accommodate a projected surge in passenger numbers, with recent data indicating a 41% increase in entries and exits since pre-pandemic levels, reaching 98 million in 2024/25, significantly surpassing Waterloo Station’s 70.4 million.
The approval comes despite concerns raised by City planning officials regarding the financial viability of the scheme, with the income from the proposed office block only expected to cover 92% of the construction costs. Though, policymakers believe the redevelopment is crucial for maintaining the City’s competitiveness. “This redevelopment of Liverpool Street station is a major step forward for the Square Mile,” stated Chris Hayward, Policy Chairman of the City of London Corporation. “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.”
The plans have faced strong opposition from heritage groups, including SAVE Britain’s Heritage and The Liverpool Street Station Campaign (LISSCA). Actor Griff Rhys Jones, president of the Victorian Society and LISSCA, described the decision as a “sad day for the City of London,” arguing that the office block would “disfigure” the historic station and potentially fail to deliver the promised improvements to the concourse. Architect John McAslan also presented an alternative, smaller-scale design, advocating for a “light-touch solution” that would minimize disruption to the station’s existing fabric.
Tom Sleigh, Chairman of the City of London Corporation Planning and Transportation Committee, hailed the project as “an astonishing improvement” and a “major improvement by every measure.” The scheme incorporates energy-efficient design and low-carbon construction methods, aligning with the City Corporation’s ‘Destination City’ growth strategy, which aims to attract investment and talent back to the Square Mile.
Recent footfall data indicates a strong return to office perform, with 10.8 million workers and visitors recorded in September and 12.1 million in October, surpassing the previous post-pandemic record of 11.5 million set in July. LISSCA has indicated it will now await decisions from the Mayor of London and, if necessary, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, regarding the project’s future.