Plans for improved public areas outside stations along the Crossrail route have moved a step closer with the approval of new funding for ambitious public realm improvements.

The Transport for London Board has approved a £30 million contribution towards the Crossrail public realm project, moving the plans an important step forwards and allowing further discussions with local authorities and developers to secure the final tranche of funding required.

As construction along the Crossrail route is completed, Crossrail is required to carry out improvement works outside each of the stations. However, to maximise the long-term benefits Crossrail delivers, more ambitious plans are being developed by Crossrail that go beyond the project’s immediate requirements. These broader plans would see improvements delivered well beyond the immediate station footprints, creating vibrant new spaces to knit in with the wider local area for commuters, residents and visitors to enjoy. Crossrail is leading this design work, with the improvements to be jointly delivered by local authorities and developers.

The recent Crossrail Property Impact Study noted that Crossrail would be the catalyst for wider development at many locations along the new route. Several developers including Land Securities, Grosvenor and Derwent London all highlighted the importance of major public realm improvements to support these new developments, so Crossrail’s public realm plans are crucial in supporting wider regeneration.

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The costs of the planned public realm improvements are in the region of £90 million - £28 million has already been secured through the Crossrail budget with a further £30 million provided by Transport for London. The Crossrail and TfL funds now in place will bring more comprehensive improvement schemes a step closer at new Crossrail stations in central London and Docklands and at existing stations across the rest of the Crossrail route such as Abbey Wood, Ealing Broadway, Hayes & Harlington, Ilford and Romford.

Andrew Wolstenholme, Crossrail's Chief Executive said: "Crossrail's public realm plans are deliberately ambitious, exceeding our own requirements and raising the bar on what any other rail schemes have delivered before. We are using the huge momentum of this project to encourage further investment in new and improved public spaces and regeneration over a much wider area around Crossrail stations. The additional funding secured from TfL is an important piece in the jigsaw and takes us a step closer towards delivering a legacy of improved public areas and new open space throughout the Crossrail route."

An example of the joint planning and delivery of the public realm plans is Ilford station, where Crossrail is working closely with Redbridge Council to plan and design a range of improvements for the station area, including widened pavements, relocated bus stops and a new pedestrian crossing over Cranbrook Road.

The public realm design plans for central London stations have also been carefully developed in consultation with the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment, now part of the Design Council, who have provided expert design advice from architects, engineers, planners and property developers. CABE's design review group has played a significant role in advising on the designs for integrated public realm around Crossrail stations.

(CD/GK)