Liverpool Street transformation approved to meet soaring demand

Plans to futureproof London Liverpool Street station have been approved, with the overhaul designed to expand capacity, improve accessibility and create a fully connected transport hub for the capital and beyond.

Currently serving 118 million passengers a year across London, East Anglia and the east of England, Britain’s busiest station is forecast to see numbers rise by 35% to 158 million annually by 2041. The approved transformation aims to ensure the station can ultimately handle more than 200 million passengers in the decades ahead.

Since opening in 1875, Liverpool Street has grown alongside the City of London, each driving the other’s success. Supporters of the redevelopment say it could boost the City’s economy by as much as £4.6 billion per year through increased visitor numbers — a contribution comparable in scale to a 1p change in the basic rate of income tax.

The scheme seeks to address longstanding constraints around space and accessibility, delivering a comprehensive upgrade to the station. The key improvements include:

• Overall concourse capacity increased by 76%, with lower concourse space expanded by 23% to dramatically ease passenger flow and reduce congestion
• A fully inclusive station providing step-free access from street level to all platforms – including all London Underground lines for the first time
• Eight new lifts, going from one four-person lift to eight large lifts
• An increase in escalators from four to ten, allowing people to move freely between the street and the concourse
• New landmark accessible entrances and more intuitive wayfinding, from Broadgate, Exchange Square and clear access to buses, bike stores and taxis.
• Toilets on all levels, including family facilities and Changing Places toilets

Developers say the station’s heritage has been carefully safeguarded, with the Victorian trainshed remaining completely untouched. The plans will also unlock new views of the original architecture, bringing passengers closer to the building’s historic features.

The infrastructure improvements are supported by the addition of a new office building above the concourse, which will include a publicly accessible roof garden. The office space is described as the best-connected and most sustainably located in the capital, contributing to the City of London’s long-term growth ambitions.

Ellie Burrows, Managing Director for Network Rail's Eastern region, said:

"This decision represents a key step towards the transformation of Britain's busiest station and marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Liverpool Street. Our plans focus on improving the everyday experience for passengers whilst respecting the station's unique heritage. With annual passenger numbers forecast to grow to 158 million, this approval ensures the station will be future proofed for decades to come.”

Image: Network Rail