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Crossrail submits development plans to transform Tottenham Court Road and West End

Wednesday 19th October 2011

By Ankeeta Munsi

• Major planning applications submitted for Tottenham Court Road station

• First new West End theatre in over a decade at former Astoria site

• New 500,000 sq ft high-quality retail, office and residential spaces will boost regeneration of Oxford Street

Crossrail today submitted ambitious plans to Westminster City Council for the regeneration of Tottenham Court Road and the east end of Oxford Street, including the former Astoria site. 

The plans, submitted in conjunction with Derwent London, propose two above ground developments located over each ticket hall of the integrated Tottenham Court Road station that will serve both Crossrail and London Underground passengers.

The 500,000 sq ft of premium retail, office and residential accommodation will cover four blocks, boosting the economy in the eastern end of Oxford Street and Tottenham Court Road. It will also deliver a significant contribution towards the Crossrail funding package.

A new theatre to replace the former Astoria Theatre is proposed. Derwent London has entered into an agreement with Nimax who will operate a new 350 seat theatre.

London Underground and Crossrail have also proposed detailed plans to renew and upgrade the public spaces around the eastern ticket hall and St Giles area.

A new open pedestrian space linking Soho Square and Charing Cross Road will create new views of the Square and of St. Patrick’s Church.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson said: "The east end of Oxford Street has long deserved the economic boost, improved public space and glamour these plans will deliver. It will be a gleaming example of the opportunities that will follow the route of this new line, as well as offering the facility to zoom from one side of London to the other at record speed."

Ian Lindsay, Crossrail Land and Property Director said: “These development plans will enhance Oxford Street and Charing Cross Road as a thriving cultural and retail destination. The quality of the new commercial space created will help attract major retailers to the eastern end of Oxford Street and boost the wider regeneration of the area.

“Crossrail will be submitting further above ground development planning applications for other station sites in central London over the coming months including at Bond Street and Farringdon. This will help us to make the most of the development and regeneration opportunities Crossrail is bringing to London.”

The proposals link into wider efforts by London Underground, Crossrail, Transport for London (TfL), Camden Council, Westminster City Council and Design for London to improve the area around St Giles Circus. A new public piazza will also be created providing a distinctive new landmark for the West End.

The arrival of Crossrail will make Tottenham Court Road a major West End transport hub. 150,000 passengers use Tottenham Court Road station every day. That number is expected to rise to more than 200,000 when Crossrail services commence in 2018. Crossrail will link the West End to Canary Wharf in 12 minutes, Stratford in 13 minutes and Heathrow in less than 30 minutes.

In total, £1bn is being spent to build the new Crossrail station and upgrade the capacity of the Tube station.

The private sector-funded over-site developments will be built once work to construct Tottenham Court Road station is complete in 2017. Crossrail will commence services in 2018.

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Ends

For further information please contact the Crossrail Press Office on 020 3229 9552 or email: pressoffice@crossrail.co.uk

Notes to Editors

The proposals for the four blocks include:

• Site A (sits on the corner of Oxford Street and Charing Cross Road, opposite Centre Point) – Demolition of the remaining facades of 17-23 Oxford Street and development of a ground, plus eight storey office building above the London Underground station and new retail floor space at basement, ground and first floor levels, together with a brand new public realm. The site provides nearly 303,000 sq ft of space of which 262,000 sq ft is office accommodation and 41,000 sq ft is retail space.

• Site B (located south of Site A on Charing Cross Road) – Development of a ground plus eight storey building to include a new West End theatre and ancillary uses, office floor space at upper levels, a new public realm including a pedestrianised Sutton Row to integrate with the new public realm. Site B approximately 86,500 sq ft of space of which 41,000 sq ft is a theatre and 45,500 sq ft is office accommodation.

• Sites C and D – Over-site Development comprising two buildings and providing 92 residential units facing Oxford Street above the Crossrail ticket hall. These sites will provide approximately 105,000 sq ft of residential space and a further 12,000 sq ft of retail space on basement, ground and mezzanine floors, fronting Oxford Street, Dean Street and Fareham Street.

The proposed plans are contained within three planning applications. Two of three planning applications have been submitted by Crossrail in conjunction with development partner Derwent London, with the third application covering Sites C and D submitted by Crossrail alone.

Derwent London has the first option to develop the site above the Charing Cross Road ticket hall as they were the majority landowner before the site was purchased. Crossrail will seek a development partner for the site above the Dean Street ticket hall in due course.

Sites A and B have been designed by architects AHMM and sites C and D by Hawkins Brown architects.

Westminster City Council's planning sub-committee approved a planning brief for the Astoria site in July 2009 and included the requirement to provide a replacement theatre as part of any new development on the site. The planning brief was incorporated into official local planning policy in September 2009.

A copy of the planning brief and the planning criteria for a replacement theatre can be found here.

Over-site developments are not covered by The Crossrail Act and are subject to the normal planning approval process.

Crossrail has entered into a number of Collaboration Agreements with existing landowners to deliver the over-site developments:

• Grosvenor Estates (Bond Street West - 65 Davies Street)
• Great Portland Estates (Bond Street East – 18/19 Hanover Square)
• Derwent London (Tottenham Ct Rd East – Astoria Site/Goslett Yard)
• Cardinal Lysander Group (Farringdon West – Cardinal House)
• Aviva Investors (Liverpool Street West – 101 Moorgate)

Crossrail intends to procure development partners at other sites where collaboration agreements are not in place yet: Tottenham Court Road (West), Lindsey Street in Farringdon (East), Fisher Street, Limmo and Woolwich.

Crossrail and development partner Aviva will submit a planning application for the Liverpool Street West site later this month. The proposals include a new office building with ground floor retail space totalling 85,000 sq ft.

Earlier this year, Crossrail’s first over-site development application – Bond Street East (Hanover Square) was approved by Westminster City Council. A separate application will be submitted for Bond Street West (Davies Street) later in 2011.