The small overcrowded entrance to Denmark Hill station in South London is to be significantly easier to use, following a £7.5 million upgrade to the station.
The station had a grand entrance building when it first opened in 1866, with narrow staircases up to the ticket hall. The ticket hall fell into disrepair and was nearly demolished in the 1980s, only to be saved, and a pub took over most of the ticket hall, with passengers relegated to a side room.
In 2011-13 a major revamp of the station saw another bank of staircases and lifts added, and a new dedicated ticket sales “shed” built on the southern side of the station.
However, even then, it seemed too small for the number of passengers using the station, and now Network Rail is to construct a second entrance on the northern side of the station.
This will not just double the capacity of the entrances, but also when a currently closed access route through the edge of the Maudsley Hospital reopens in 2023, then the new entrance will make journeys a few minutes quicker as around 60% of passengers come from the north side of the station and currently have to walk all the way around to the southern entrance.
The new entrance will come with four standard ticket barriers, and two wide barriers. As the new entrance is higher than the walkway leading to the platforms, there will be steps down, and a long ramp for those who need it. Although it looks like a fairly modest structure, being built over a slope means it has quite substantial foundations to secure the slope to support the building.
In addition, new canopies on the platforms should encourage people to move further down the platform in adverse weather.
There will also be a new 85-space cycle storage facility for the station, and will be free to use.
And finally, a photovoltaic film will be applied to the new station roof, the rain cover over the accessible ramp and all-new canopies, which should generate enough electricity to make the new station development ‘Carbon Positive’.
Network Rail estimates that the new entrance will be enough to cope with demand until at least 2038, and construction work is due to start in the next few weeks.
I’d like to see solar canopies installed at all stations that aren’t fully covered, the free electricity from the solar panels will pay for the canopies after a few years, then reduce costs.
Denmark Hill station used to be a beautiful Victorian structure. If only todays architects could produce similar lovely, long lasting stations. Instead they’ll build a utilitarian heartless, plastic eyesore, which will look shabby and cheap within a decade.
Whilst it is very hard to disagree with this sentiment, I think it’s important to recognise that Victorian-era buildings come with a significant maintenance overhead.
Carbon negative, surely?
Fantastic news! The station is currently a nightmare during peak hours and this new entrance will really improve station capacity. I do envisage the one way system currently in place being retained but with the existing building as entry only and the new building – exit only.
The extended station canopy needs to come with additional departure screens, improved PA system and more bins! Lighting was already upgraded/improved recently.
Any news on the new entrance at Hackney Central station.
I’m sure they are doing more than just the second entrance.. but wouldn’t it be cheaper just to buy the pub?
What if the landlord doesn’t want to sell?
As a student in the ’80s, Denmark Hill was my local station. At the west end of the northern platform there was plainly visible the remains of an old staircase leading to Denmark Hill itself. I have no idea when or why the staircase was demolished. At any rate, I’m glad the northern access is being restored – it is infinitely more convenient for king’s and the Maudsley, which is where most folks want to get to.