South Kensington Station could be in line for a major redevelopment, which will include the creation of a mixed-use office, retail and residential complex.
An application has been submitted to the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea seeking planning consent.
The station, originally opened in December 1868, is known as the gateway to the world famous London museum and culture district. Around 30 million people pass through annually and the number continues to rise as London passenger traffic grows.
The project will provide a fully refurbished Underground station and new public space to include:
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A new ticket hall at street level with improved capacity for visitors and locals
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A large public orientation space providing a focus for South Kensington
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An improved transport interchange, with better arrangements for local buses
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A fully accessible station with new escalator and lift access to all platforms
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New fire escapes, fire fighting lifts and staircases
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Efficient passenger flow arrangements
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New cycle parking provision
A commercial development above ground will include 217,000 sq ft of office space, a local food store, twelve smaller retail units and 125 residential units. The commercial and residential elements will fund the cost of building the new station.
Mike Brown, LUL Stations Director, said: “South Kensington Station is extremely busy and has needed an upgrade for some time. The last time any significant development took place was in the early ‘70s when new escalators were installed for the Piccadilly Line.
“The station has become something of an eyesore for local residents and is increasingly in demand by tourists who pass through to visit the many London hotspots easily accessible from its location.
“Our aim is to develop a fully modernized station accessible for all which will complement the local area and accommodate the growing through traffic. “
The project will be led by developers Stanhope plc and Hutchison Whampoa Property working in partnership with London Underground. Architectural practice Terry Farrell & Partners has designed the development.
Notes to editors
For further information please contact: Rachel Huggard at the London Underground press office on 020 7918 4747. Nick Sutcliffe at communications specialist APCO UK on 020 7526 3622.
A public exhibition will be held between Monday 23 June and Sunday 29 June 2003 in the Harrington Suite at the Moat House Hotel on Harrington Road, close to the station.
South Kensington Station is inextricably linked to the great Victorian advances of the second half of the nineteenth century, which saw the 1851 Great Exhibition, the building of the Royal Albert Hall and the creation of the national museums.
Such was the growing popularity of the station that Exhibition Road was extended south of the Cromwell Road to connect with it. In its heyday, it was a grand construction with several operating platforms covered by a substantial glazed roof.
The roof was demolished in the early 1900’s when the separate Piccadilly Line station with lift shafts was built.
The Victorian terrace fronting the north side of Pelham Street was demolished in 1971 when escalators were installed to reach the Piccadilly line from within the original station.
Since this time the site has been subject to a number of redevelopment proposals. Work commenced on the foundations for a hotel building, but was abandoned in 1973.
