King's Cross Central - Key Facts

Key Facts

In 1989, the London Regeneration Consortium (LRC) submitted proposals to develop the railway lands. The London Borough of Camden was "minded to grant" planning proposals for these proposals in 1994. The proposals were subsequently withdrawn.

The majority of the site falls within two conservation areas. There are several buildings and structures of heritage value, some of which are "listed".

King's Cross/St Pancras is already served by 6 Underground lines (the Northern, Piccadilly, Victoria, Circle, Metropolitan, and Hammersmith and City), by Thameslink, Midland Main Line, East Coast Main Line, and Eurostar. These services, coupled with the ability to access each of the four main airports in the South East (Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, and Luton airports), makes King's Cross the most accessible transport interchange in London. There have been HS1-related works to the London Underground system, in particular works to construct a new Northern Ticket Hall, which opened in 2009. A new Western Ticket Hall was opened to the public on 28 May 2006. Network Rail is redeveloping King's Cross Station, relocating the ticket hall and other functions from the 'temporary' structure fronting the Euston Road.

KXC has been identified in national, regional, and local policies as a high density development which should seek to optimise the full potential of this brownfield development opportunity benefiting from an excellent and improving public transport network in the heart of central London. Buildings will range in height across the site from one storey to up to 19 storeys. Protected views of St Paul's from Parliament Hill and Kenwood House will not be affected. At least a third of the site (25 acres/10 hectares) will be dedicated to new public routes and open spaces.

Argent proposes to create 20 new major routes and 10 new public spaces. 5 of these public spaces are major new squares - Granary Square, Station Square, Pancras Square, Cubitt Square, and North Square - which together total 8 acres (3.2 hectares). In addition, the proposals include 6.5 acres (2.6 hectares) of new public realm along the Regent's Canal (the Gas Holders Zone and Coal Drop Yard) and within a new "Cubitt Park". Argent plans to invest in improvements to the Regent's Canal corridor on lighting and access to the canal, especially from Granary Square. The towpath connects the site to local attractions such as Camden Market, Regent's Park, London Zoo, and the shops along Upper Street. Camley Street Natural Park and areas of Camden to the west will be connected to the site via a footbridge crossing over the canal, one of three new crossings over the Regent's Canal.

In March 2006, London Borough of Camden granted outline planning permission to the framework scheme as submitted by Argent and amended in 2005.