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Search the Public Notice PortalHeritage groups have said they still “cannot accept” revised plans to redevelop Liverpool Street station.
Thousands of objections greeted Network Rail’s initial plans to revamp the station last year, which included building a 20-storey office block over the adjoining Grade II*-listed former Great Eastern Hotel.
Following the backlash, it was revealed last month that Network Rail will work with a new developer called ACME on updated plans for the station, which is the UK’s busiest.
These reduced the office building by 11 metres at its highest point, and set it back from the Great Eastern Hotel.
But a coalition of heritage groups have now said that the changes made to the scheme “do not answer their justified concern”.
The Liverpool Street Station Campaign (LISSCA), which is led by the Victorian Society, felt that Network Rail should stop “seeking huge additions and causing damage to listed buildings”.
A spokesperson said: “The sheer scale of the hulking great over-station development is not acceptable. Indeed, we would question the principle of any over-station development.
“The current naturally light-filled concourse with a transparent glass roof will be hemmed in under the base of the tall tower proposed with a new solid roof. This will be an oppressive space.”
The railway company has said that a new office building remains in the latest design because it will ultimately fund the development of the station at street level.
There are plans to enlarge the Transport for London (TfL) ticket hall and provide step-free access to all of the station’s platforms, including from seven new lifts, as part of the redevelopment.
Campaigners against the plans have also accused designers of allowing for a “dramatic” demolition of the 20th century parts of the station, which they claim have “value”.
The developer behind the scheme said that it had minimised changes to the 1980s station roof, despite parts above the concourse being earmarked for replacement.
A 19th century roof above the platforms will be preserved in full.
Network Rail claims that of 1,860 people who responded to its consultation on the new designs, 74 per cent supported the scheme, with even greater numbers supporting upgrades such as step-free access to the station.
But LISSCA has pointed out that this represents just a tiny percentage of the almost 100 million passengers who use the station every year.
The group added that while the consultation demonstrated “broad public support for improving the station’s facilities”, it failed to show the need “for the specific nature of the redevelopment proposed”.
Network Rail's Robin Dobson has now defended the new approach, claiming that the development has "significantly changed" since the first application was submitted.
He added: "A new approach was needed and after extensive consultation and listening to a broad range of views, this scheme puts the needs of passengers first.
"The new office, that is funding the much-needed passenger improvements, has been substantially redesigned to protect the Grade II* listed former Great Eastern Hotel.
"Care has been taken to ensure that the overall design maintains natural light flooding into the station."
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