London Bridge Station Upgrade

This meant that as part of the redevelopment, some elements of London Bridge were maintained, or refurbished. For example, in the Western Arcade the quadripartite arches were seen as a grand feature of the old station. These were mostly demolished and then rebuilt to a similar design, but with modern construction methods to ensure they would hold the necessary loads.

When it came to reconfiguring the layout of the tracks so that more trains could run, we focused on the phased demolition of the old platforms and the arches below. Working progressively from south to north, the platforms were brought back into use on a staged basis, each one coming into service before the next stage of works commenced. This helped to minimise disruption for passengers and ensured that services could continue to run throughout the redevelopment.

Work also included creating a brand new, street-level concourse, allowing passengers to access all 15 platforms from one place – the first time this has ever been possible. To accommodate an increase in passenger numbers, the concourse is two-thirds larger than before, forming an area the size of the pitch at Wembley stadium.

In keeping the station open throughout the redevelopment, we often had to think of new and innovative ways to do things. For example, so that we could meet the requirements of the planning authority, the design incorporates an iconic and futuristic looking roof formed of sculpted canopies. Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing (MEP) had to be hidden in a specially designed MEP spine within the station, but this created a significant challenge when it came to phased construction, because the new assets had to be fully commissioned and in operation before the next phase could start. We solved the problem by using an innovative modular canopy and precast platform solution; components were constructed off site and assembled quickly on site, which meant we could work quickly and achieve the ambitious construction programme.

Finally, retail was an important part of the new design, and the layout of the station has been configured to allow for up to 70,000 sq. ft. of retail space. This has been focused in the ‘non-pay’ sections of the stations, helping it to become a destination for the local area as well as for passengers passing through. As such, the transformation of the station has acted as a catalyst for the wider redevelopment of the area, not only enhancing the experience of passengers, but also bringing value for everyone in the area.