UK. Retail sales at London Paddington railway station increased by +40% year-on-year between April and June following a £13 million regeneration project by Network Rail.
The upgrade, which began in July 2015, includes 16 new and improved retail units as Network Rail prepares the historic Brunel-designed railway station for an expected upsurge in visitors with the arrival of Crossrail. Crossrail is the new high frequency, high capacity railway line for London and the UK Southeast.
Leading cosmetics brand Kiehl’s and British shirt maker Thomas Pink are among new outlets at the station, with UK-based Leon complementing food & beverage outlets such as the Mad Bishop & Bear pub.
Network Rail said the improvements to the retail area – known as The Lawn, after the site of a former station master’s cottage and garden – were completed alongside a refurbished open-plan ticket office.
Network Rail said it worked closely with English Heritage to prepare the Grade 1 listed site for a rise in footfall while preserving its historic design. Catering for 60 million visitors a year, the arrival of Crossrail in 2018, and the completion of nearby regeneration projects including the Paddington Opportunity Area, are expected to bring in millions more station users by the close of the decade.
Network Rail Commercial Director of Retail Hamish Kiernan said: “As footfall figures and retail sales at Network Rail managed stations continue to rise, the completion of Paddington Lawn gives commuters a new high-quality shopping experience.
“Convenience shopping has never been more popular, and our stations are becoming destinations in their own right due to the wide range of new retailers and food options available to commuters and visitors alike.
“Britain’s railway stations are great symbols of our industrial heritage, and regeneration projects like Paddington Lawn ensure the spaces created by Victorian visionaries remain relevant and fit-for-purpose.”
The completion of Paddington Lawn is part of Network Rail’s wider investment in station regeneration across the UK. “Over the last several years, the refurbishments of London King’s Cross and Birmingham New Street have transformed the retail offer at these stations for visitors and their surrounding communities,” Network Rail stated.
This trend is set to continue with Network Rail’s ongoing refurbishment of London Bridge station, due for completion this year.
