George Osborne paves way for rebuilding of Euston Station for HS2 arrival

 
21 February 2014

Plans for a full-scale rebuilding of Euston station to create a brand-new shopping centre, offices and apartments are signalled today by Chancellor George Osborne.

In an interview with the Evening Standard at the end of his latest trip to Hong Kong, he said the 46-year-old station should be replaced completely for the arrival of High Speed 2.

“I’m thinking that maybe we should go for a really big re-development of Euston,” he declared. “There is a really big opportunity for jobs and for housing in the area. Let’s face it — Euston is not one of the prettiest of the London stations. It was last redeveloped in the middle part of the last century.”

His words herald a dramatic change in the fate of Euston. Plans to demolish and rebuild the 1960s building were dropped by HS2 last April after protests.

But the revised plans extending the station were derided as “a shed being bolted on to an existing lean-to” by Camden council leader Sarah Hayward. Mayor Boris Johnson said it was a missed opportunity for regeneration and jobs.

Now Mr Osborne wants to copy the boldness he witnessed in Hong Kong, where he toured the site of a giant new high-speed terminus currently under construction.

New HS2 chairman Sir David Higgins, the former Olympics delivery chief and Network Rail boss, is being asked to study the possibilities. Speaking at the Kowloon site, which is due to open in less than two years despite being rubble at present, Mr Osborne said: “Here we are at a high-speed terminal in the middle of a great city. Well, we want to build a high-speed terminal in the middle of a great city too.

“With HS2 coming in I think there’s a real opportunity to rethink our plans. That’s something that David Higgins will have to look at.

“I’ve seen what they’ve done in Hong Kong and the ambition they have got and the way they integrate transport and railways with jobs, offices, commercial properties and housing.

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“I think we should have the same level of ambition in London. There’s no reason why we can’t be taking on these great big infrastructure ideas.”

The Kowloon terminus, with up to 18 platforms, will serve Hong Kong’s MTR metro and a new high-speed express service to mainland China. Mr Osborne was shown around by Jay Walder, the CEO of MTR, whose firm now runs the London Overground. MTR is credited with funding rail extensions by incorporating large-scale commercial property development into their stations.

The Chancellor made clear he is looking for overseas investment in the UK at the same time as backing deals for British firms abroad.

Euston’s current station was opened in 1968. At the time its modern design was supposed to symbolise the electronic age but there was an outcry over the demolition of the previous station halls, built in the 19th century.

In the same interview, Mr Osborne endorsed Aviation Commission chief Sir Howard Davies’ call for at least one more runway in the South-East to boost London’s air links. He said all political parties should accept any recommendation Sir Howard makes for its location, including Heathrow.

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