The London Borough of Camden has resolved to approve Network Rail's GBP400 million redevelopment of King's Cross station. The decision will allow major benefits of the scheme to be realised in time for the 2012 Olympics. The project, which will be funded by the Department for Transport and Network Rail, will support the continued growth in passenger numbers at Britain's busiest transport interchange.

The number of people who use King's Cross station each year is expected to rise by over 10 million in the next decade alone. To meet this challenge, the station will incorporate a new concourse which is three times the size of the current temporary structure. Passengers will benefit from a lighter, brighter station with improved access to trains, new shops and restaurants, and better facilities. The original Grade-I listed southern face of the station, designed by Lewis Cubitt in 1851, will also be uncovered for the first time since 1972.

To accommodate more trains and passenger demand in future years, Network Rail also announced it will build a new platform at King's Cross. The additional platform will make sure disruption to services is minimised whilst other platforms are refurbished during this redevelopment. Network Rail will finance this by reinvesting operating profits into this element of the station work.

Iain Coucher, Deputy Chief Executive of Network Rail, said: "Camden's decision is great news for the millions of people who use King's Cross. We have consulted widely with passengers and the local community. As a result we will produce a station which takes renewed pride in its rich history, whilst introducing excellent modern features to give a stamp of 21st century design. The restoration of King's Cross fits into wide-ranging plans to upgrade London's leading stations. It will create a world class station for all passengers and offer a fitting entrance to the capital for domestic and international travellers."

Notes
The key features of the new station are:

* Environmentally-friendly power - renewable energy sources will be used at King's Cross to reduce its carbon footprint
* Improvements to the local environment - as well as redeveloping the station itself, Network Rail will spend over GBP6million to create a major new public piazza space outside the southern end of the station which will be larger than Leicester Square. In addition, at least GBP0.75 million has been set aside to pay for improvements to York Way
* Job creation - the equivalent of almost 400 jobs will be created as a result of this work and Network Rail is working with surrounding local authorities to support training and employment for people in the local community.
* Wider economic and community benefits - King's Cross has been identified by the Mayor's London Plan as an area of potential growth. Network Rail is working closely with local authorities and neighbouring developers (London and Continental Railways, and Argent plc) so that plans for the station support this wider development. Network Rail will also support a number of local community groups throughout this project.
* Triple the size of the concourse area, providing room for current and future passenger numbers and more shops for people to use whilst waiting for trains
* Increase train capacity by building an additional platform which could deliver between 7 and 24 more trains during the morning peak period. The platform will also significantly reduce any service disruption during construction.