Network Rail Property has submitted plans to redevelop London Liverpool Street station.

It says the development will enable the station to serve more than 200 million passengers a year, significantly boost London’s economy and establish a “landmark gateway” to the City of London.

As Britain’s busiest station, London Liverpool Street currently connects 118 million people a year within London, East Anglia and the east of England.

With annual passenger numbers forecast to grow to 158 million by 2041, the plans will ensure the station is future-proof, ready to accommodate more than 200 million people in the decades ahead while enhancing accessibility to all.

New retail, leisure and workspaces are part of the redevelopment plan.

In a widespread public consultation on the plans which are focussed on improving the everyday experience of passengers, nearly 2,000 individual comments were received with three out of four supporting the redevelopment proposals.

Network Rail Property launched the consultation on new plans at the end of last year after a previous scheme, submitted in 2023, generated “significant objection” from heritage organisations.

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 200 million 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.”

The cost of transforming Liverpool Street station to meet future needs will run into hundreds of millions of pounds.

The investment will be covered by private sector partnerships through the creation of new office space above the station.

The plans to transform Liverpool Street station include:

• 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.
• Updated designs

ACME, the scheme architect, is working with Network Rail Property to bring forward the new plans for Liverpool Street station.

Friedrich Ludewig, founding director at ACME, said:  “Liverpool Street is one of London's great Victorian stations and our proposals will make the station accessible, permeable and celebrate its function as the gateway into the City of London. 

“We have embraced the challenge to design new entrances reflecting its position as the UK's busiest train station, and roof structures that speak to the original 1875 structures and the 1990s extension.

“We are retaining the essential qualities of the existing station, celebrating elements that were previously hidden, creating sustainable new workplaces and providing spaces to expand into for generations to come. Liverpool Street station will become the world-class transport hub that the City of London and all Londoners deserve.”