After years of discussions, designs and consultations, today the City of London Corporation’s Planning Application Sub-Committee was able to approve Network Rail’s plans to redevelop London Liverpool Street Station.
This upgrade will future proof the station to service more than 200 million commuters and visitors in the decades ahead.
Set to unlock new opportunities for growth at the heart of the Square Mile, the proposals will deliver a state-of-the-art, fully accessible station, alongside new commercial, cultural and public spaces. Whilst improving central London’s connectivity to the rest of the country, it will make the local area a much more enjoyable place to visit, work in and travel through.
The approved plans reflect extensive engagement with accessibility advocates, heritage groups and local residents, with the original designs evolving to better celebrate the station’s remarkable entrances and historic architecture. The scheme also includes new office space and a wide variety of shops and cafes, supported by improved pedestrian routes through the area which is set for extensive pedestrian and cycle friendly landscaping and greening. Energy‑efficient design and low‑carbon construction methods are used throughout.
The completed project will contribute directly to the City Corporation’s ‘Destination City’ growth strategy which aims to keep the Square Mile a globally attractive place to invest and do business, attract current workers and the next generation of talent back to the office, as well as create an environment in which people want to live, work, learn and explore.
In keeping with the City Corporation’s mission to make the Square Mile as inclusive and accessible as possible, step‑free access will be included at every station platform, including the London Underground, and an expanded concourse will greatly improve passenger congestion, as visitor numbers are anticipated to grow by hundreds of millions, in the near future. Upgraded passenger facilities include more ticket barriers, wider platforms, more escalators, lifts, lounges and toilets, to further ease congestion and improve comfort.
Members of the Committee were asked to balance the damage to some of the station’s heritage features against the public benefits of the scheme.
As Ward Councillors for Bishopsgate (in which Liverpool Street Station sits), Simon Burrows and I shared our representations based on meetings with the applicant and local stakeholders over many months. Ultimately, we asked the Committee to lend their support to this scheme which we believe has enormous local support, but we did explicitly ask that Network Rail do far better on stakeholder engagement with local businesses, so that they can navigate the long construction process and apply mitigation where possible.
In summary, it has been a really great day for Bishopsgate and one which will see the next chapter in Liverpool Street station’s long and colourful history! Let’s hope that’s the last time I have to carry around 9 kilograms of reports for a meeting.
You can watch the proceedings for yourselves below, or read the supporting materials here: Agenda for Planning Applications Sub-Committee on Tuesday, 10th February, 2026, 1.45 pm – Modern Council
