Policy information sourced from the Finsbury Local Plan
BC5 Farringdon station area
A world class transport interchange will be created at Farringdon within a high quality environment that complements and enhances the wider area’s history and heritage, including:
- Business and supporting uses, including retail and leisure uses.
- A new station providing fully accessible interchange between Thameslink, Crossrail and tube, as well as high quality passenger facilities.
- An enhanced public realm that prioritises pedestrian circulation and provides good access between the station and other transport modes.
The following should be provided by development proposals:
A) For sites adjacent to and above Farringdon station:
- A coordinated approach to development on adjacent sites which takes account of and responds positively to likely future schemes promoted by neighbouring landowners,
- A “single station environment” across Cowcross Street through the provision of high quality, permeable station frontages, and a unified public realm between stations,
- A high quality station that provides efficient interchange between modes and incorporates a range of passenger facilities consummate with its role as a London hub station, including public, fully accessible toilets, and
- A high quality public realm on all frontages, including the widening of footpaths between the station and Charterhouse Street.
B) The provision of a range of employment uses, particularly offices and associated business uses, with retail and leisure uses provided at street level onto Farringdon Road, Charterhouse Street, Cowcross Street and Turnmill Street to create vibrancy and interest.
C) Measures to facilitate ease of movement and modal interchange, including secure cycle parking, cycle hire docking stations, cycle lanes along Charterhouse Street, taxi ranks, improved bus provision, pedestrian signage, and restrictions on delivery and servicing during daytime hours. Servicing must be located to remove conflicts and maximise efficiency of space and use. Shared service bays, basements and access/egress with neighbouring buildings should be considered to achieve the most efficient use of space.
D) An improved public realm which promotes pedestrian circulation and which results in a series of integrated, linked and high quality public spaces, including neighbouring spaces such as Clerkenwell Green.
E) Buildings of high architectural quality and local distinctiveness, of a height, scale and massing that respects and enhances the immediate and wider context, particularly within and adjacent to Conservation Areas. New development should respect long established building lines and street frontages, utilise design techniques that break up the bulk of new buildings, and relate positively to the width of the street.
F) Buildings and spaces that are designed to minimise environmental impacts and result in cooling, air quality and biodiversity benefits. As Farringdon falls within a Local Flood Risk Zone, buildings must be designed to minimise surface water runoff. Buildings adjacent to the Citigen plant should be designed in a manner to ensure its effective functioning.
G) The conservation and enhancement of key heritage and townscape attributes, including local and strategic views to St. Paul’s Cathedral. Buildings or structures that frame local and strategic views from viewpoints and viewing areas identified in the Development Management Policies DPD and London View Management Framework should enhance the visual quality of protected views, in particular their heritage significance, including through sensitive design, massing, and use of appropriate materials.
H) The retention of the railway cuttings as predominantly open spaces. Enhancements to the cuttings that conserve and enhance their heritage value, and provide improved pedestrian access across the space between Turnmill Street and Farringdon Road, are encouraged. The disused underground railway line between Farringdon and Barbican will be safeguarded to allow for its future reuse for transport purposes.
I) Connection to the neighbouring Citigen or other Decentralised Energy network, where viable.
For more information please see the Local Plan