Redevelopment of the railway lands
This refers to a very large (67 acre site) behind Kings Cross and St Pancras stations, stretching back to the CTRL line. Argent Kings Cross (originally Argent St George) together with London and Continental Railways and Excel have the contract to redevelop it. They made their first outline planning application in September 2004.
Meanwhile, CCC’s Kings Cross Team (John Chamberlain, Anne Boston and James Brander) have been attending the various meetings of the Kings Cross Development Forum, Kings Cross Railway Lands Group, and Planning Aid for London. They prepared a submission on behalf of CCC which was sent to Camden’s Planning Department
Response from Camden Cycling Campaign, Sept 2004
Then in November 2005, Argent submitted a revised planning application. CCC’s response to this is at
Response from Camden Cycling Campaign, Nov 2005
CCC continued to attend meetings and then eventually early in March 2006, Camden Council accepted Argent’s proposals. These covered most of what had been requested by CCC – we were pleased that the Camden Square groups spoke up in favour of the Camley Street link. However the KX railway land group were not happy.
In October 2006, Camden council agreed the Sn 106 offerings. CCC supported a request to include the cycle/pedestrian bridge over the rails at Kings Cross station linking to Wharfdale Road.
The first detailed application was for the Eastern Goods Yard, including the historic Granary Building. This is to become a new site for the University of the Arts (which combines many of the London Arts colleges). Cycle parking facilities seem to be adequate, but no mention is made of access for cyclists. CCC’s response is at
CCC Response to E Goods Yard Planning Application
The St Pancras and Kings Cross station development
At St Pancras, the CTRL international station has opened in 2007 as well as the CTRL domestic station, the redeveloped Midland Mainline station and the Thameslink station. A separate campaign was launched when St Pancras International opened.
The redevel0pment at Kings Cross station and the new square on the Euston Road side was complete by 2012.
The following website has some nice illustrations of the development Station developments
Separately from the response to the planning application, CCC had recognised that there were major implications for cycle access to the stations area. Some of the issues were connected to the development plans, but many related more to the CTRL station and potential relocation of the Thameslink station. Two meetings were held with Camden’s Kings Cross team to discuss these issues. Minutes of one of these meetings can be found here. Meeting with Camden’s St Pancras team
In late 2006, TfL commissioned Buchanans to write a report on cycle access to and circulation within the site. Philip Loy has produced a draft, and this may be viewed, along with minutes of the meeting that CCC held with him, at Meeting to Discuss first draft of document
On the day that St Pancras International opened, we launched the separate St Pancras Campaign. Read about the background and outcomes of the St Pancras Station campaign. This campaign involved cycle parking, taking your bike on the same Eurostar train, a cycle safety audit on the roads around the station almost all of which has now been implemented and finally, a link to the SSL also completed. But we are still (in summer 2014) without proper access to the cycle parking at St Pancras.
Wharfedale Road Bridge
In the development at Kings Cross/St Pancras, a new platform was built on the eastern side of Kings Cross station and all entrances on that side were closed. Therefore anyone approaching from the Wharfedale Road side has a long walk to get to St Pancras Station. Cllr Paul Braithwaite campaigned for a new bridge and suggested that we should try to get it accepted as one of the Sustrans Connect 2 projects for bridges over barriers – unfortunately we missed the boat. Network Rail accepted its feasibility but somehow evaded carrying it out.
Where we are 2014
The railway lands are still under redevelopment and consequently hampering final improvements on Goodsway and at its junction with York Way. We await teh promised bridge over the canal between Granary Square and Camley Street.
Camden council offices and a new leisure centre opened at 5 Pancras Square in July 2014. Associated with this are plans for improvements to the road under the CTRL rails and the junctions at the two ends. Consultation August 2014.
