Work starts at Waterloo station to create 20,000 sq ft of new retail space

The scheme will create 20,000 sq ft of new retail space at first-floor level allowing kiosks currently in the middle of the overcrowded concourse to be cleared, creating more space and making it easier for passengers to move around the station.

The balcony built to access the new facilities will also improve the connection between Waterloo East and Waterloo mainline station.

Gavin McKechnie, Network Rail’s head of retail, said: ‘We are committed to improving stations for passengers and the Waterloo balcony scheme does just that – by providing a better choice of restaurants and shops and easing congestion at Britain’s busiest station. This is an exciting milestone for Network Rail as Waterloo is one of the key stations across London where we a creating a better experience for passengers. Retail in stations is going from strength to strength with sales increasing year-on-year well above the high street. This new space at Waterloo will create exciting new opportunities for those looking to benefit from the high footfall of the busiest station in the country, as well as a great destination for casual dining, shopping and bars.’

Network Rail awarded the £10.6m contract for the scheme to BAM Construction Ltd, which has started work to remove the existing retail facilities on the concourse. The station’s existing first-floor offices will then be converted into 18 new retail spaces and a 220 metre-long balcony will be constructed which will be accessible by a lift, escalators and stairs.

Kevin Mahon, project manager for BAM, said: ‘BAM is very pleased to be working with Network Rail once again at such an important location. As a company we’re renowned for the quality of our work and our responsive attitude – both of these will be needed to deliver this project that will benefit those who visit London or live and work in it.’

When work is completed, passengers will benefit from a wider and improved choice of casual dining restaurants and shops. A new champagne bar under the original glazing at the south end of the concourse will complete Waterloo station’s transition to a destination station, where travellers and non-travellers alike will be able to eat, drink and shop.

The scheme has been designed to complement the station’s existing Victorian architecture and will be one of the first steps to deliver Network Rail’s vision of providing better retail facilities at destination stations, along with sustainable sources of additional income to reinvest in rail.

Work is due to be completed in Spring 2012.

Notes:

• The balcony at Waterloo is one element of Network Rail’s plans to create over 75,000 sq ft of new retail space in stations. Some 47,000 sq ft of this new space will be in London, where another station to benefit will be King’s Cross. The creation there of a striking new concourse, three times the size of the current area, will mean passengers will have access to more than 27,000 sq ft of new shops and restaurants spread over two floors.
• BAM Construction and BAM Nuttall are the construction and civil engineering companies respectively of Royal BAM Group within the UK. Their combined turnover is almost £1.8bn placing them in the top tier of British contractors. In London, BAM Construction has recently delivered the new Darwin Centre at the National History Museum, the new Unison HQ, and 55 Baker Street, the extensive refurbishment of the former M&S headquarters. It is at work on Great Ormond Street Hospital, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and a campus for the University of the Arts, London at Kings Cross and the new Network Rail National Centre in Milton Keynes due to open in 2012.
• The balcony will be designed to complement the station architecture, including the grade II listed Victory Arch, and will take inspiration from the contemporary and uncluttered style used at St Pancras. The shop fronts, facias and signage of the relocated and new facilities will also be required to meet specific design standards.
• At the south end of the concourse, advertising hoardings will be removed to reveal the original glazing beneath.