Cross Ticks all the Boxes - King's Cross Square Opens for Business

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27 September 2013 | Updated 01 January 1970

Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, was on hand to officially open the King’s Cross Square which now offers the public an additional 75,000sq.ft of space.

Costing £550 million, the scheme has allowed the original façade of King’s Cross Station to be seen for the first time in 150 years. There have also been knock on advantages, according to Johnson. "The transformation of King's Cross is not only beautiful but it has also triggered all sorts of regeneration, with new jobs, huge numbers of homes being built and businesses relocating here," he claimed.

The area had been criticised for years as being particularly ugly and undesirable, especially after office hours. An ugly, ‘temporary’ structure, installed at the front in 1972, did little to enhance the entrance to the station.

To put it in context, the space is larger than Leicester Square, forming the final part of the redevelopment of the station. The design was by architect, Stanton Williams with the clear intention to display the Victorian Grade I listed station facade. Network Rail has also investing £1 million working with Camden Council (which gave the original planning permission) on improvements to the local area that resulted in improving pedestrian access along York Way.

The redevelopment is predicted to generate over 400 additional jobs.

Article written by ThisWeekinFM | Published 27 September 2013

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