Incredible pictures have shown what a huge £1billion upgrade will look like at the UK's busiest railway station. The plans will enable Liverpool Street to serve more than 200million passengers a year, significantly boosting the economy and establishing a “landmark gateway”, officials say. The scheme, the latest plans for which have been submitted to planners, would include a new retail, leisure and workspace space, and improved connections to the wider city and public spaces, Network Rail adds. 

In addition, there will be: step-free access across the station, new lifts and escalators to increase accessibility to both mainline station and London Underground, and new toilet facilities, including family-friendly spaces on every level. Previous iterations of the project had been met by thousands of objections as conservation campaigners raised concern about the build’s impact on the historic interchange. The Victorian Society, which has opposed previous plans, says it will review the latest proposal.

It said on X: “Network Rail's new plans for Liverpool St Station by ACME have been submitted to the City of London planning department. 

“The Society has not seen the final plans following pre-application consultation, with the other LISSCA committee members we will be reviewing and commenting on the application once it is live on the planning portal.

“The Victorian Society has continuously raised concerns with proposals for Liverpool Street Station and will be advising the public who have been following our campaign on the application.”

Previously, Griff Rhys Jones, President of the Liverpool Street Station Campaign (LISSCA) and the Victorian Society, told Network Rail to "stop looking at this handsome station as a development site and to recognise it as the important and historic artefact that it is; one that works and can continue to work".

A spokesperson for the Victorian Society reiterated to the Express that they are in "a difficult stage of the planning process that puts statutory commentators at a disadvantage right now  as the plans have ‘only’ been submitted for validation to the City of London".

Therefore, "none of the statutory consultees will have seen the final plans that have been submitted". They added: "Much of what we said in November on seeing concepts won’t change – although we have absolutely no information on finances such as option appraisals or on the true sightlines in relation to St Paul’s Cathedral which are crucial to any tall building constructed in the City of London."

Robin Dobson, Group Property Director for Network Rail Property said: “We’re proud to be leading the submission of a transformative scheme for the redevelopment of London Liverpool Street station — one that is a truly accessible and inclusive space, can support the forecasted annual passenger rise to over 200million and deliver vital improvements to the everyday experience of passengers while respecting and celebrating the station’s historic character.

“Investing in transport infrastructure is essential to unlocking future economic growth for London and beyond. This investment will ensure Liverpool Street remains a landmark gateway to the City of London for generations to come.

“Following extensive consultation and engagement with a wide range of stakeholders, our plans put passengers first whilst respecting and retaining the station’s Victorian features, including the iconic trainshed and the Great Eastern Hotel.”

Here is Network Rail’s outline of the planned changes in full:

• Eight new lifts to make Network Rail platforms and the London Underground fully accessible

• Increasing the number of escalators from four to 10 to enable easier access to the trains

• Increasing the size of the concourse to ease over-crowding

• Step-free access across the station and London Underground

• More ticket barriers to reduce queuing and additional waiting lounges

• New toilets, including family facilities on all levels of the station

• New landmark entrances on Liverpool Street, Bishopsgate and Exchange Square

• Better signage throughout, making the buses and new waiting areas easier to find

• More cycle storage, creating a safe and secure location to transfer between rail and onward destinations

• A greater variety of cafes, restaurants and shops

• Pedestrian routes up to Exchange Square

• New covered bus stop waiting areas

• Prominent new entrances and visibility across the station

Bosses add that “following extensive consultation with key stakeholder groups, including local communities, accessibility advocates, heritage groups including Historic England, and businesses the scheme has evolved significantly in several ways” 

These include:

• Number of escalators increased from eight to 10

• Larger lifts for wheelchair users

• Wider staircases and step-free access throughout

• A clear wayfinding strategy to improve navigation

• Family rooms within the station at all levels

• Quiet areas to support passengers

• Redesigned station entrances to better celebrate and connect with the historic station architecture and the historic context

• Roof design further developed in-line with original Victorian architectural principles

• Landscaping and benches around the Kindertransport Statue redesigned to enhance visibility and public engagement

• Office building realigned to better reveal the Grade II listed Andaz Hotel

• Revisions made to reduce the height and size of the office building to positively respond to the conservation area and protected views

• Inclusion of a dog friendly area within public spaces