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) had 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 station development

At St Pancras, the CTRL international station has now opened and there is also a CTRL domestic station. The Midland Mainline station has been redeveloped. Thameslink station will move to the site at the end of 2007. Kings Cross station is being redeveloped.

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 these meetings can be found here.

Meetings with Camden's St Pancras team

In late 2006, TfL commisioned 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

Wharfedale Road Bridge

In the development at Kings Cross/St Pancras, the plan is to build a new platform on the eastern side of Kings Cross station and to close all entrances on that side. Therefore anyone approaching from the Wharfedale Road area will have a long walk to get to St Pancras Station.

CCC has supported a proposed pedestrian and cycle bridge from Wharfedale Road across the lines at Kings Cross Station. Network Rail has accepted its feasibility but the cost will be £6 million.

Cllr Paul Braithwaite is campaigning for this bridge and suggests that we should try to get it accepted as one of the Sustrans Connect 2 projects for bridges over barriers - unfortunately I think we've missed the boat.

But CCC still would like to get behind Connect2 which is one of six projects competing for a single grant of £50 million from the Big Lottery Fund’s Living Landmarks: The People’s Millions. The winning project will finally be decided by a public vote on television in December 2007

Bridge in 1896