Historic England 'objects in strongest possible terms' to 'grossly ... trends now
Proposals to redevelop Liverpool Street station will be rejected in the 'strongest possible terms' by Historic England, the respected heritage body said today.
The controversial £1.5billion plan would see the construction of a huge new high-rise building and the partial demolition of the station, which is grade-II listed.
It would also involve rebuilding the neighbouring Grade II listed Andaz hotel, which opened as the Great Eastern hotel in 1884. The development would be capped with a roof garden and swimming pool.
After months of consultations, the formal planning application - made by the developer behind the Shard skyscraper - was submittted to the City of London on Monday.
It has already been fiercely opposed by campaigners including the Victorian Society, but today Britain's premier heritage organisation also said it will formally reject the 'grossly disproportionate' plans.
Historic England is preparing a lengthy response but chief executive Duncan Wilson said that the plans are 'fundamentally misconceived'.
Proposals to redevelop Liverpool Street station will be rejected in the 'strongest possible terms' by Historic England, the respected heritage body said today
Liverpool Street station opened in 1875 and is now one of London's busiest.
An estimated 135million people passed through it each year before the coronavirus pandemic.
Network Rail - which owns the station - and transport company MTR are partnering with developer Sellar in backing the redevelopment project.
Sellar says its proposals involve more than £1.5 billion of private investment, including £450 million to double the size of the station concourse and add more lifts and escalators.
The station 'suffers from significant overcrowding' as well as 'poor pedestrian accessibility and connectivity', according to the company.
A Historic England spokesman said the proposed demolition of the station concourse extension - built between 1985 and 1992 - would 'sever the fine 1870s trainshed from the Victorian ensemble that still characterises this special place.'
They added: 'The architectural harmony and heritage significance achieved by the last redevelopment would be destroyed, and the natural light over the concourse lost.
Network Rail - which owns the station - and transport company MTR are partnering with developer Sellar in backing the redevelopment project. Above: A computer generated image of the proposed redevelopment
Liverpool Street station opened in 1875 and is now one of London's busiest
The plans would include the construction of a 16-storey tower adjoining the station. The development would be capped with a roof garden and swimming pool
Sellar says its proposals involve more than £1.5 billion of private investment, including £450 million to double the size of the station concourse and add more lifts and escalators. Above: A CGI image of the proposed redevelopment
Network Rail - which owns the station - and transport company MTR are partnering with Sellar in developing the project
'The proposed tall buildings above are of grossly disproportionate scale and would trample on the station and the former Great Eastern Hotel, which is now listed at Grade II* in recognition of its role as an impressive station frontage and for its lavish interiors.
'Its picturesque silhouette and proper grandeur would be radically compromised by the scale and bluntness of the new structures forced onto and through it.
'The proposed redevelopment of the station would severely damage the Bishopsgate Conservation Area,
