Overview
- - The City of London planning committee voted 19–3 to grant permission for the £1.2bn redevelopment of the UK’s busiest station.
- - The scheme includes a 19‑storey, roughly 97‑metre tower above part of the concourse to help pay for upgrades that expand capacity and improve accessibility.
- - Network Rail says the plan delivers full step‑free access and a concourse capacity increase of up to about 76%, responding to growth from 98m entries/exits toward forecasts of 158m by 2041.
- - Objections from heritage groups and Hyatt highlighted harm to listed fabric and a reported £200m–£220m funding shortfall, which a committee member also questioned during the meeting.
- - The approval is being referred to Mayor Sadiq Khan, with likely Secretary of State involvement, and Network Rail has announced multiple weekend closures in March affecting Greater Anglia services from Essex.