A public consultation is opening to show off plans for a major upgrade of Camden tube station.
TfL showed off the initial concept last year, and they’ve been working on adding some polish to the details, hence the new consultation ahead of seeking formal planning permission later this year.
There have been attempts to upgrade the often overcrowded station in the past, most controversially in 2000-2005, when they planned to demolish the 1907 era building and replace it with this modern glass edifice.
Cover of the rejected consultation from 2000 – author’s copy
Unsurprisingly, that provoked howls of protest and the plans were blocked by the council and following appeal and review, by the government, leaving the station untouched… until now.
The new plans see the original entrance left untouched, but a brand new entrance opened a few streets away, and huge new tunnel network dug at the back of the platforms.
Above ground, a large block of land behind Camden Market would be flattened, and that would allow for access down to dig the new tunnels, and leave a new station entrance.
Above site developments would see commercial space for small businesses at lower levels, and approximately 60 to 70 new homes across the upper levels. TfL expects 35 percent or more to be affordable housing, although that is below their target of 50 percent across their portfolio.
The road the new entrance would sit on would also probably have to be split in half, to create a pedestrian space in front of the station, leading directly to the market.
Conveniently, the new entrance would also sit just outside the Camden conservation area, which may help alleviate the planning process, if only slightly.
Below ground, the two small cross passages between the two arms of the Northern Line will be joined by two more much larger tunnels. These will be needed not just to help people get out of the station but as an interchange for the long anticipated splitting of the Northern Line into two separate services.
Access to the new tunnels for construction will be aided by the clearance of the site for the new station entrance, but also potentially by the presence of two deep level shelters constructed during WW2.
With remarkable luck, one of the WW2 tunnel access points is right next to the new building site, which offers the potential to use the tunnels for storage or deliveries from a more convenient location nearby.
Whatever the construction plans and design of the new entrance ends up as, there will be quite a wait, as work is not expected to start until 2019 and the new entrance wont open until 2023/4.
There will be a public exhibition showing the plans at the Arlington Conference Centre, 220 Arlington Road, London, N1 7HE on:
- Thursday 19 January 16:00 – 20:00
- Friday 20 January 10:00 – 14:00
- Saturday 21 January 11:00 – 15:00
FYI the postcode listed for the Arlington Conference Centre where the exhibition is to be held is incorrect on TFL’s website. It should be NW1 7HE (not N1 7HE). I have also emailed TFL to let them know.
– why did we now know about this new scheme / underground proposal?
– decisions like this have a major impact on the residents who have lived in this neighbourhood for decades…
– with local authority cuts back backs, Camden are failing to deliver a service to their community to fully engage and communicate this important message which has major impact affecting the lives of many local people. This discussion should includes a full transparent + open debate…
– where + when we’re the letters sent and notofications?
– digital + online consultation is not enough engagement + has a limited audience.
There were quite a few public meetings, advertised in the local print press and on signs around the station.
Local businesses and residents were also informed in leaflet drops.
Short of flying an airship over the location with a big arrow pointing to the public meetings, not sure what more they could have done. The fact is that no matter how much work you put into a public consultation there will always be someone who threw the leaflets away, was too busy reading their phone while walking to see the signs, just thinks it’s someone else’s issue to deal with.
No consultation will ever be able to reach 100% of people. The people who are concerned would have known, simply by being the sort of people to look out for things happening in their local area.
It’s not as if it’s a huge surprise this is happening – TfL have been working on plans for over a decade for this station.
I’d love to know who comes up with these ideas to just bulldoze our history away in favour of tacky structures that i’d put alongside Mcdonalds and KFC etc…. London is looking more and more like a city for the suits and nobody else.
As the only bit of history being destroyed is a rather shabby set of modern buildings and a tired old school building, I am not sure what you are complaining about.