The planning zombie that is the renewal of the square in front of Kings Cross station has lurched on another step with the award of the design competition without any community input. The lucky winners are Stanton Williams who have done some nice public realm stuff elsewhere. There is a full Network Rail PR outpouring on their website, breathlessly reproduced in some trade journals and in a fine example of public service journalism, the BBC has just reprinted the press release. Curiously the Head of Environment at Camden is quoted congratulating the architects – which seems odd given the council's role in the judicial planning process and the general approach to purdah in an election period set out in the code of practice.
The process for redesigning the square after the removal of the green shed has been endlessly delayed in a mismanaged competition with no communtiy input as we have noted elsewhere. Network Rail seem determined to repeat the expensive mistake they made with the main station planning application by not involving the community at the early design stage. Network Rail repeatedly compare the new square with Leicester Square, perhaps failing to note Leicester Square is one of the the most miserable high profile public spaces in London. The major (and unattractive) bits of infrastructure that will crop up on the square are already in play as the Kings Cross Development Forum notes. If the process for the square hadn't been so badly held up by Network Rail then a more holistic approach could have been taken.
I can't find any images of the Stanton Williams design online (surely it can't be this one?) can anyone else – please link to them in the comments. Network Rail are very welcome to contribute to the discussion in the comments.
UPDATE
Councillor Paul Convery has weighed in on this over on his Cally Councillors site – no engagement of Islington elected members, even though the Square borders on Islington.
Kings Cross Environment 
Here’s another regretable example of regeneration being done “to” people and not “with” them. Network Rail and Camden may be thrilled with their pick of Stanton Williams in a design competition but local people have played no part in this process. As far as I can tell (despite what Network Rail’s press release says) there is no evidence that Islington Council has been involved … although it may turn out that some anonymous Islington official has attended a meeting or two.
The whole philosophy behind this critical redevelopment is a cosy arrangement between Camden Council and Network Rail. I am particularly critical of Camden which seems doctrinally blinded to the fact that the Borough boundary runs along one side of this “square” or that thousands of people and their active community organisations already live in Kings Cross.
It’s symptomatic that Camden’s spokeswomen talks about a “better public realm along Euston Road at the heart of the borough of Camden”. The Kings Cross square is not at the heart of Camden at all. It’s on the Borough’s very eastern edge and is a piece of geography that is shared with Islington.
I’ve got a scheduled meeting with Network Rail on the 27th April to discuss the redevelopment programme and I intend to raise this with Ian Fry, their overall Director for the Kings Cross redevelopment.
Arrgh, can’t believe how much this is dragging on. And Leicester Square comparisons – frightening! I can say that on this side of the border there’s been no engagement either, as far as I can tell. So we’re all in the dark.
You may be interested to note that Stanton Williams is the architects behind the Central St Martins College design:
http://www.stantonwilliams.com/projects/38_ual.html
Interesting that you link to the reference that Network Rail committed to spending £1m on York Way.
Has there been any sign of that? – although the re-creation and then removal of bike lane recently must have wasted a fair bit of money.
And the bins that appeared after community action now seem to have gone again.
All this shows Network Rails contempt for the people around its stations.
Comparisions with the squalid Leicester Square are worrying – does tha mean we get a fun fair at Christmas?
Presumably we get a chance to comment on this at the planning stage with Camden? – although does anyone believe that Camden will actually react to anything the people who live in Kings Cross will say?
Hang about…..the press release from NR says…..”Network Rail is also investing £1m working with London Borough of Camden to spend on improvements to the local area, including £750,000 to improve the pedestrian environment along York Way.”
All the previous reporting I have read on this had York Way getting £1m (including presentations Islington have given on the topic). Some reports also say that some of this £1m improvement was actually spent by NR cleaning the brickwork on the eastern range.
I have skimmed the S106 docs on Camdens planning website, can’t see this commitment.
he lack of consultation on this square with the residents on both sides of the borough boundaries (both Camden and Islington sides) is absolutely disgraceful!
Does anyone know which Quango we can complain to about very substandard practice on this design? I am angry about this. So undemocratic!! Step one need more information about the design. Where is a picture or description of the winning design. Need to pick this one up after the election. Its almost as though they have sought to bury the announcement.
Dont let them bury it. Lets dig it up!
One thought this issue highlights the value of this website being read on both sides of the borough divide and also north and south of the Euston Road. No other publication does it for Kings Cross!