Work to transform the nationally important South Kensington Tube station is gathering pace, following its inclusion in Transport for London’s (TfL) latest Business Plan.
The station improvement work will be delivered by TfL alongside a joint venture between Native Land and Places for London for the public transport-oriented development in the surrounding buildings. The redevelopment will see the station and the local area receive significant improvements, including providing step-free access to all platforms.
For tens of millions of customers every year, South Kensington Tube station is both a vital local transport connection and the gateway to London’s internationally renowned cultural quarter. Work is now underway to progress with works to create a station that the area can be proud of.
TfL, Native Land and Places for London will provide a new accessible station entrance on Thurloe Street, to enable much-needed step-free access to the ticket hall, platforms and the subway that links the station to nearby museums. This will greatly improve access for wheelchair users, customers with buggies and other passengers with mobility needs, who currently find navigating the station extremely difficult. TfL will also build a new dedicated eastbound platform for the Circle and District line, with lifts to these platforms and to the Piccadilly line.
This public transport-oriented redevelopment project led by Native Land and Places for London and designed by Stirling Prize-winning architect RSHP, received full planning permission in December 2023. The recent approval to progress work on the station improvements unlocks the many public benefits made possible by the approved design. These include preserving the historic arcade within the station and restoring it to its former glory, as well as providing new offices and 50 homes around the station, including on-site affordable housing.
The development will also see a carefully crafted four-storey building installed at the front of the station, referred to as ‘The Bullnose’ because of its unique shape, that will give the station a new prominence. The ground floor will offer retail and food and beverage opportunities, while new upper levels will offer high quality flexible office space.
Although they are run as separate projects, both projects will share a single programme to minimise disruption to the travelling public and to residents, necessitating close collaboration and coordination between the TfL and Native Land/Places for London joint venture.
Work on detailed design for the final station improvements will progress in the coming months, with enabling works for the around-station development starting later in 2026.
Bruno Carr, Head of Investment Planning at TfL, said: “It’s great that our plans to radically improve South Kensington Tube station have now reached the point where we have the necessary investment outlined to allow this scheme to now progress. This transformational scheme will deliver much-needed step-free access to this station, while also making the area around it more pleasant for the millions who visit the nearby attractions and museums every year.”
Alasdair Nicholls, Chief Executive of Native Land, commented: “The investment in South Kensington Tube station is a significant milestone in a project that will unlock huge benefits for Londoners and enhance our city’s reputation as a cultural destination on the world stage.
“Our joint venture team at Native Land and Places for London will work side-by-side with TfL to deliver a major regeneration of the buildings and public realm around the station. Crucially, we will ensure that step-free access is delivered as part of phase one of the works.
“Our scheme for a world-class transit-oriented redevelopment, designed by Stirling Prize-winning architect RSHP, is ready to go and we’re hugely excited to begin work with TfL colleagues to secure the many benefits it promises for South Kensington and for London.”
Image credit: TfL
