Sellar, the developer of London Bridge Quarter and Paddington Square, MTR, a leading global operator of sustainable rail transport services including the Elizabeth line, and Network Rail have submitted a joint planning application to the City of London Corporation for proposed vital upgrades to transform Liverpool Street station.

The £1.5 billion vision for Liverpool Street station has been developed in collaboration with Pritzker Prize winning architectural practice Herzog & de Meuron and will create a world-class transport hub and landmark seven-days-a-week destination, with new retail and leisure facilities for visitors, passengers and the local community.

The designs being submitted follow several years of working with the City of London Corporation as well as ongoing consultation with heritage organisations and other key stakeholders, including three public exhibition events, resulting in the proposals incorporating a number of design changes and improvements.

A major transport hub in need of vital upgrades

Despite being the capital’s main transport hub, significant changes are required for the station to become fully inclusive. It is one of the most difficult to access for people with disabilities and offers a poor passenger experience for those with small children and luggage, with only one accessible lift serving the mainline station and no step-free access to most London Underground platforms.

When the last upgrade to the station was completed in the early 1990s there was no expectation that passenger numbers would grow. Liverpool Street is the busiest station in the UK by footfall, with up to 135 million people using the station and concourse area annually in recent years. In spite of high passenger volumes, it operates with just half the concourse space of similar London stations which results in overcrowding during peak times.

The creation of a new landmark office and hotel enable a comprehensive redevelopment to deliver £450 million of vital station upgrades and customer requirements, resulting in a greatly improved passenger experience at no cost to the tax or farepayer. Passengers are at the centre of the proposals, and the design allows the station to remain open and operational throughout all phases of the project construction.

A sustainable and heritage-led design proposal

The innovative net zero design creates over 800,000 sq ft of offices and around 160,000 sq ft of hotel space using the airspace above the 1990s elements of the station and 40 Liverpool Street.

The office component of the development has been designed to address the lack of supply for modern Grade A space in the City of London with strong environmental and wellness credentials that can accommodate changes to working habits that have accelerated as a result of the pandemic.

The project also sensitively protects and celebrates the station and hotel’s unique historic features. The Victorian trainsheds will be restored and will not be touched or built over as part of this project. The newly proposed station concourse will celebrate these valuable heritage structures by opening up incredible new views of them throughout the station. Local and street level views will be retained by visually setting back the commercial building comfortably from the historic façades of the Grade II* listed 40 Liverpool Street.

A new City destination with green public realm

The proposals include the creation of over 1.5 acres of public realm in and around the main station building and Hope Square as well as the pedestrianisation of Liverpool Street.

The highlight is a new public rooftop garden with natural planting, which has been designed to offer the local community new amenities and sports facilities that do not currently exist. A four lane, 25 metre City Lido heated by surplus heat from the offices will allow swimmers to enjoy open air swimming all year round and a padel court will become the first in the City of London. Both will be available to the public, including local schools; and a rooftop café, with outstanding views over the City and to St. Paul’s, will also be open to visitors.

A cultural and placemaking strategy has been at the forefront of the design of the public spaces to create a seven-days-a-week destination. Importantly, it ensures that the public realm is a dynamic and engaging place, with a range of activities and events that will draw visitors and serve as a hub for arts, entertainment, and community activities, creating a vibrant and lively environment.

A new six-storey hotel at the top of the building will be a destination for international and domestic visitors, and includes a venue that can host conferences, talks, lectures, and live music. The hotel will continue to be part of the Hyatt’s Andaz brand, offering a quality hotel experience for the City of London.

James Sellar, Chief Executive at Sellar, said: “The upgrades to Liverpool Street station are essential in helping London maintain its status as a world-class city and encourage people back to the capital by significantly improving the experience for the station’s millions of users and commuters. The plans will create one of the most sustainable destinations in the Square Mile, including a rooftop garden and City Lido, both accessible to the public. The office, hotel and leisure components above the station will be designed with the highest environmental and wellness credentials and will enable the £450 million of vital station upgrades at no cost to passengers or the taxpayer.

“Our entire approach prioritises protecting and enhancing the historic elements of both the Great Eastern Hotel and of the station itself. The original Victorian railway sheds at Liverpool Street station will not be touched but will be celebrated by opening up new views to and through them.”

Robin Dobson, Group Property Director at Network Rail, said: “Our plans for Liverpool Street will create a new transportation hub and a seven-days-a-week retail and cultural destination in its own right. This comprehensive plan will ensure the redevelopment is accessible to all, forward-looking and meet the City of London’s needs. Liverpool Street station will stand as one of the great stations, fit for the 21st century.

“The current experience designed in the 1980s falls very short and needs to change. Our vision will guarantee that sustainable travel and an exceptional experience becomes the reality for future generations. We will move from an inaccessible and overcrowded station to one centred on people, ensuring an open, accessible destination for everyone.”

Steve Murphy, CEO at MTR UK said: “Our vision is to create a world-class gateway to our great capital. The upgraded station and surrounding environment will serve everyone who passes through, providing an inclusive, accessible, and transformative space.

“MTR has unique experience in rail-related property projects and is proud to be part of creating a sustainable landmark destination that will connect, build, and support thriving communities. Our proposal will greatly enhance the experience of passengers, visitors, and office workers. Importantly, the local community will also gain significant advantage from access to new facilities, cultural offerings, and unique public spaces both in and around the station.”

A decision by the City of London Corporation is expected in 2024.

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Sellar, the developer of London Bridge Quarter and Paddington Square, and MTR, a leading global operator of sustainable rail transport services including the Elizabeth line, working together with Network Rail, are presenting further details of their proposed upgrades to transform Liverpool Street station. The second public consultation for the project is being held on 18-19 January, following the initial consultation event in November 2022. 

The last upgrade to Liverpool Street station, completed in the early 1990s, came at a time when there was no expectation that passenger numbers would grow. Now Liverpool Street is London’s busiest station, with up to 135 million people using it annually in recent years. Due to the size of the existing concourse, however, passengers currently experience significant overcrowding at the station during peak times. While numbers dropped during the pandemic, congestion still occurs at peak times, and these conditions are expected to worsen as more passengers return. The station is also difficult to access for people with disabilities, luggage and small children, with only one accessible lift serving the main line station and no step-free access to most Underground platforms.

The latest designs include details of the proposed commercial elements, which will enable the delivery of £450 million of vital station upgrades, resulting in an improved passenger experience and creating a destination station.

The evolving designs follow months of consultation and discussions with the City of London, heritage organisations and other stakeholders, including members of the public, which have led to a number of amendments and improvements.

Herzog & de Meuron’s innovative design uses the space primarily above the 1990s’ elements of the station, efficiently densifying the existing footprint, while retaining local and street level views by visually setting back the commercial building comfortably from the historic façades of the Andaz London Liverpool Street (formerly the Great Eastern Hotel).

Sellar, MTR and Network Rail are working closely with key stakeholders, including Transport for London and Hyatt, owners of the Andaz London Liverpool Street hotel adjacent to the station, to bring forward the plans for this regeneration opportunity.

The £1.5 billion project aims to create a new accessible world-class station and will support the City of London Corporation’s Destination City ambitions by creating a landmark seven-day-a-week destination comprising a new retail and leisure hub for visitors, passengers and the local community.

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MTR Elizabeth line (MTREL) has appointed Mike Bagshaw to the role of Managing Director. Mike has over 30 years’ experience in the rail industry which has included strategic leadership roles at Arriva Trains Wales, Chiltern Railways, and First Great Western.

Mike first joined MTR in 2016 as Bid Director, before becoming Performance and Planning Director of MTR Elizabeth line in 2018, and Chief Operating Officer of its parent company MTR UK in 2021.

Mike’s railway career began in frontline customer-facing roles in British Rail. As part of the initial management team that developed Chiltern Railways’ expansion to the West Midlands, Mike helped to deliver exceptional passenger growth, operational performance, and customer satisfaction. At Arriva Trains Wales, Mike transformed performance, delivered high levels of passenger growth and introduced new routes and services, working closely with the Welsh Government.

During his career at MTR, Mike’s responsibilities have included overseeing the planning and delivery of the end-to-end Elizabeth line, developing industry-leading operational performance and planning capability, and expanding a successful operating business portfolio. Mike is highly skilled in delivering strategic and transformational projects that bring wide-reaching benefits to customers and communities.

Mike said: “Having previously held the position of Performance and Planning Director, I am delighted to be returning to MTR Elizabeth line as Managing Director to lead the organisation through its next exciting chapter. From my current role as Chief Operating Officer for MTR UK, I have seen first-hand the extraordinary commitment of the MTREL team to bring the Elizabeth line to life. The results speak for themselves with the Elizabeth line seeing an average 3.6 million journeys every week, and recognised for its punctuality, reliability, and outstanding level of customer satisfaction.

“This unwavering commitment to our customers and ambition to achieve the highest levels of performance sets the tone for the delivery of the remaining stages of the project and future operations of the landmark Elizabeth line.”

As Managing Director, Mike will lead MTR Elizabeth line through the final stages of the plan which will see a further timetable change in May 2023 and the expansion of through-running across the Elizabeth line route.

Steve Murphy, CEO MTR UK, said: “During his impressive MTR career to date, Mike Bagshaw’s responsibilities have included overseeing the planning and delivery of the end-to-end Elizabeth line, developing industry-leading operational performance and planning capability, and expanding a successful operating business portfolio. This, along with his extensive industry experience with operators including Arriva Trains Wales, Chiltern Railways, and First Great Western, made him the ideal choice to lead MTREL into the final stages of the existing concession agreement, and beyond.”

MTR Elizabeth line’s current Managing Director Nigel Holness has taken the decision to step down from the role in early February, remaining with the organisation and re-focusing his efforts on developing future business opportunities at MTR.

Nigel said: “I returned to the UK to lead MTR Elizabeth line in its role, working closely with TfL and Crossrail, to open the Central Operating Section of the Elizabeth line and to connect it with our east and west railways creating an integrated service for customers. I have achieved this objective and feel that the time is now right to move onto other challenges.

“Opening the Central Operating Section and successfully launching the Elizabeth line has been incredibly challenging and is an extraordinary career highlight. The Elizabeth line is now the UK’s fastest growing railway and has achieved record levels of customer satisfaction. However, I feel that now is the right time to handover to Mike, for whom I have great admiration. Mike’s experience and passion for MTR Elizabeth line and the rail industry will help to ensure the successful delivery of the final stages of the plan and build on our operational successes to date. I am immensely proud of the team – especially my frontline colleagues – and our collective achievements over the past two years and am delighted to be continuing my journey with MTR as we bolster our business for the future.”

Steve Murphy, CEO MTR UK, added: “Since joining us in early 2021, Nigel Holness has guided MTR Elizabeth line through one of the most enviable success stories of the rail industry. The past two years have been a challenging, exhilarating rollercoaster and ultimately a hugely successful period for the business. Nigel’s leadership during this time has been exceptional and I would like to place on record my sincere thanks to him for his contribution.”