Why do we need such a big development?

We are told a development is required to generate capital to pay for improvements In the South Kensington Tube Station. London Underground will not use any of its funds for station improvements, since the station is not listed by LU as a priority.

We have been told that a RBKC previously consented 1999 development plan was not economically viable, and a project of this scope was required to deliver the necessary improvements.

Yet if we look at the marginal improvements to the station, they are really very slight:

• 1 escalator
• 4 lifts
• 5 additional gates

There is a discussion in the proposal of other maintenance at the station, but much of this would presumably be included in future Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) Expenditures to be spent on the Tube in the future.

(Much is made in the proposal of moving the ticket hall from mid-level to street level. We have consulted a transport expert who saw no inherent merit in this idea. Equally, the existing subway to the museums is now located at mid level. A new ticket hall at street level would require users to ascend or descend a staircase from street level to mid-level to use it).

To pay for these improvements, the developers estimate they need to spend:

LU Improvements	£25 million
Planking over tracks	£25 million
Building & other costs	£65 million (estimated)
Developers Profit	£23 million (estimated at 20% of costs)
Total	£138 million

Do we really need to build a £138 million project to pay for one escalator, 4 lifts and 5 additional gates? Or is this just an excuse for a large scale office and retail development in a mainly residential area, to generate enormous profits for the developers at the expense of the users of the station and local residents? Also Metronet appears obligated under the PPP lease with London Underground to renovate the station by 2010.

Compare the 1999 Consented Scheme to the proposed scheme:

The previous proposals

London Underground and Stanhope were granted planning permission for the development of this site in 1999. A comparison between the schemes and the new proposals highlights how excessive the new proposals are.

This is how the two schemes compare.

Floor Space	Consented Scheme	Proposed scheme	% change
Office	102,047 sq.ft	261,306 sq.ft	156%
Retail	15,182 sq.ft	37, 466 sq.ft	147%
Residential	65 units	125 units	92%
Car parking	75 spaces	85 spaces	16%
Station	28,503 sq.ft	27,954 sq.ft	-2%

So, what has changed since the previous proposal that such a large increase should be granted? NOTHING!