Skip to content

London Bridge wins three prizes at prestigious architecture awards

Network Rail’s London Bridge station has won three prizes at the prestigious New London Awards following its historic £1bn redevelopment.

London Bridge, designed by architecture firm Grimshaw, was named overall winner after more than five years of construction as part of the biggest railway upgrade since the Victorian era. It also won the transport and infrastructure category, and the sustainability prize.

The station won the accolades at the Guildhall on 4 July at a ceremony backed by Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, who delivered the keynote speech.

New London Architecture, which describes itself as as a broker between those involved in planning and designing, held the annual awards to celebrate the capital’s best new and proposed projects across all sectors.

The event recognises projects of the highest design quality that make a positive contribution to their surroundings and life in the capital.

London Bridge fully reopened in January, having been transformed by Network Rail as part of the government-sponsored Thameslink Programme.

The project was one of the most complex and ambitious rail station redevelopments in Britain, and was praised by New London Architecture for its “impressive scale and complexity, increase in passenger numbers… and for having sustainability as a key driving factor in both its design and construction”.

The project’s major works include:

  • A vast new concourse larger than the pitch at Wembley to unite 15 platforms for the first time
  • Modern facilities making the station fully accessible for all
  • Two new entrances on Tooley Street to connect the north and south sides of the station
  • Five new platforms to allow Cannon Street services to once again stop at London Bridge
  • Entirely remodelled tracks through and around the station to allow more trains to travel through London

Sir Peter Hendy, chair of Network Rail, said: “The pinnacle of achievement in London’s built environment is to be the overall winner at the New London Awards; rightly, our superb London Bridge station is that winner in 2018. Congratulations to everyone involved; a fantastic success, especially given the difficulty of rebuilding the station whilst keeping it working every day.”

Mark Carne, chief executive of Network Rail, said: “It is a stunning piece of architecture in its own right, and more importantly a magnificent transport facility fit for the 21st century.

“Our work here has not just transformed the station itself, but is driving economic growth and community benefits in the area, as well as providing a much needed connection between Tooley Street and St. Thomas Street either side of the station. Further afield, infrastructure works north and south of London Bridge are also connecting new destinations for the first time.

“I must take this moment to reiterate my thanks to the great people and great teams behind this fantastic project, as well as to our customers for their understanding during these major works.”

Together we can end domestic abuse