King's Cross Central

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King's Cross Central (KXC) is a multi-billion pound mixed use property development in central London. The site extends to approximately 65 acres (25 hectares) and comprises mostly of land to the north of King's Cross and St Pancras mainline railway stations, between the alignment of the new Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL) - which will curve around the site to the north and west - the East Coast Main Line and York Way. York Way marks the boundary between the London Borough of Camden and the London Borough of Islington. A small section of the project, known as the "Triangle site" falls within the boundaries of Islington. Camden Council granted outline planning permission for the main part of the site in early 2006. This has now been approved by the national government and the Mayor of London, and separate planning permission for the Triangle Site is still required from Islington Council.

Currently, and until 2007, the majority of the land at King's Cross Central is being used for CTRL construction purposes. Comprehensive redevelopment of King's Cross Central depends, therefore, on the timely delivery of the CTRL project. In that context, the last few months have seen major progress on the CTRL project and the associated regeneration of King's Cross.

In April 2001, London and Continental Railways (LCR), the Government and Railtrack signed an agreement confirming the financing arrangements for Section 2 of the CTRL, which will take the new high-speed line from North Kent into a new international station at London St Pancras. Contracts have now been placed to deliver Section 2 and the major engineering work began in July 2001. LCR remain firmly on course to complete Section 2 by 2007. This means that the developer can now begin to plan the redevelopment of land at King's Cross Central (formerly referred to as the King's Cross 'railway lands'), with certainty and confidence. With outline planning permission, GLA and GOL approval, initial development work at King's Cross Central should begin in 2007, as CTRL construction works come to a close.

Key Facts

The majority of the land at Kings Cross Central (formerly referred to as the railway lands) is controlled by London and Continental Railways (LCR) and Exel.
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, however the proposals were subsequently withdrawn.
The LRC proposals addressed over 100 acres of land, on the assumption that the CTRL would come into King's Cross station, underground.
The London terminus of the CTRL will now be above ground, at a redeveloped St Pancras station. Consequently, the area of railway land available for redevelopment is now much smaller.
In the short and medium term, the majority of this land is being used for CTRL construction purposes.
The CTRL is being constructed in two phased sections. Section 1 runs from the Channel Tunnel to Fawkham Junction in north Kent and was completed in 2003. It has significantly reduced the existing journey time from Waterloo International station to the Channel Tunnel. Section 2 will extend the high-speed line into a new international terminus at London St Pancras. It also includes new stations at Stratford, east London and Kent Thameside, north Kent. Engineering work on Section 2 commenced in July 2001 and will continue until 2007.
Early in 2000, LCR and Exel selected Argent St George to be the developer for King's Cross Central, after an extensive selection process.
The majority of the site falls within two Conservation Areas. There are a number of buildings and structures of heritage value, some of which "listed".
King's Cross is already served by 6 Underground lines - the Northern, Piccadilly, Victoria, Circle, Metropolitan and Hammersmith and City - as well as by Thameslink and other mainline rail services. Post-CTRL, it will also be served by Eurostar, high speed links to Kent and improved Thameslink services. These services, and the ability to access each of the four main airports in the South East (Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton Airport), will make King's Cross the most accessible transport interchange in London.
There are CTRL-related works to the London Underground system, in particular works to construct a new northern ticket hall. Works to construct a new western ticket hall are currently underway.
Network Rail is formulating plans to redevelop King's Cross Station. It aims to relocate 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.
Density will average 3:1 across the site.
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) 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.
In addition, the proposals include 6.5 acres 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 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.

External links

[King's Cross developer]
[King's Cross Online]
[Station information] on King's Cross Central from Network Rail.
[Train times] and [station information] for King's Cross Central from National Rail
[Street map] and [aerial photo] of King's Cross Central from Multimap.com.
[London & Continental Railways]

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