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Liverpool Street Station plan still 'unacceptable'

Network Rail/Acme Architect's visualisation of the exterior of Liverpool Street station. A watercolour style painting with people on a zebra crossing outside a suggested new entrance of bricks and a large glass office block on top.Network Rail/Acme
Re-drawn proposals were not acceptable to the Victorian Society

A new proposal for the redevelopment of Liverpool Street Station does not answer objections raised by the previous plan, a heritage charity has said.

Fresh plans were drawn up after thousands of public objections to the original proposals, including from Westminster Council and Historic England.

Network Rail wants to erect office and retail space that would fund the rebuild but would necessitate the partial demolition of the historic building. It said its latest plans "embrace Victorian features".

But the Victorian Society said it "cannot accept that this is the best way forward".

Network Rail changed their lead architect for the project, from Swiss firm Herzog & De Meuron to London-based Acme.

Herzog & de Meuron had proposed a series of futuristic white-coloured arches flowing through the station concourse.

Acme’s plans are Victorian in style and their idea of the controversial office block includes a reduction in height and a cover of greenery.

Network Rail/Acme Architect's visualisation of the exterior of Liverpool Street station. A watercolour style painting with people wandering about, a large glass office block with green blobs on it to simulate greenery is poking above the original Victorian building.Network Rail/Acme
The added greenery on the office block was not enough to assuage the concerns of some objectors

However, the original planning application does not yet appear to have been withdrawn and it remains under consideration by the City of London.

On the scheme's website, Network Rail said its updated plans would ease congestion, reduce queuing and make the station more accessible.

It stated the "overall look and feel has been completely reimagined," adding: "We’ve spent time talking and listening; our latest plans embrace Victorian features including the original train shed and the Great Eastern Hotel."

But the Victorian Society said the plans remained "perverse".

"Other London stations like King's Cross and St Pancras have adapted to the 21st Century. They revealed their original Railway Age splendour," it said.

"It seems perverse that the proposals at Liverpool Street should still go in the opposite direction."

The group urged Network Rail "to stop looking at this handsome station as a development site" and to recognise it as a historic artefact.

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