Member Article

HS2: Council leader's open letter calls for redevelopment of Euston Station

In an open letter to London’s mayoral candidates, the leader of Camden Council, Cllr Sarah Hayward, has highlighted the “critical effect a new Euston Station will have on the lives of Londoners”.

Camden Council remains opposed to High Speed 2 (HS2) due to the decade and more of disruption it will cause the borough’s residents and businesses. Should HS2 go ahead, the council wants commitment to “a properly funded plan that improves the current Euston Station and benefits Camden.”

The Euston Strategic Board has commissioned work on a growth strategy to further set out the vision of the Euston Area Plan, the council’s joint plan for the area with Transport for London and Greater London Authority. This could see the construction of up to 1,900 affordable homes, up to 14,100 new jobs and replacement open space created at Euston.

However, current plans for Euston Station, the proposed terminus for HS2, do not commit to redeveloping the existing station or to putting tracks all on one level.

In her letters to candidates, Cllr Hayward says: “There is currently no commitment from the government to develop the current dilapidated station, already a frustration for passengers. Continuing failure by HS2 Ltd to commit to lowering all the tracks to one level will mean we would lose the potential to deliver 6,000 jobs, 1,000 homes and £400m of economic value.”

“Comprehensive development of Euston Station would unlock the site to the homes greatly needed in the face of a housing-crisis and create a truly accessible station that would meet commuters’ travel needs and open the station up to business opportunities and the local community.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ellen Forster .