More information has been revealed about the ambitious £1m revamp set to transform Liverpool's Moorfields station from an "outdated" facility into a vibrant hub. The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) disclosed plans last month to inject funds into the station's modernisation.
The project's initial stage is part of a broader scheme to rejuvenate the station, with the first phase focusing on sprucing up its look and improving access for all.
Merseytravel has now submitted a formal planning application to Liverpool Council, proposing a new retail space at ground level to enhance the station's offering. The current layout has been criticised for fostering "significant levels of anti-social behaviour" in areas surrounding the entrance, as revealed by council documents.
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Pending approval from the city council, the makeover is slated to commence in October and reach completion before the year's end.
In February the station's external escalators were finally switched on again after two years.
Moorfields Station, which opened in 1977, was established as a successor to the nearby Liverpool Exchange Railway Station and sits on the Liverpool Loop line, linking it to other subterranean stations such as Lime Street, Liverpool Central, and St James St.
The new station - and therefore its main entrance is at first floor level rather than directly on the street, even though the trains run under ground.
Back in 2015, Owen Ellis Architects were tasked by Merseyrail to revamp the existing station's appeal to passengers. They introduced a steel cladding system, colourful lighting, and composite fins to transform the station into a local landmark and focal point.
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According to the design and access documents, the station's current look is deemed "outdated" and has become a breeding ground for significant levels of antisocial behaviour around and under the foyer. The documents stated: "There is a necessity to reduce this, and by doing so will improve the overall passenger experience.
"Furthermore, the proposed improvements seek to re-establish the station as a focal point and destination within the urban cityscape, which the current station facilities fail to do."
The documents note the area beneath the raised entrance has turned into a "hostile environment" plagued by crime.
The proposed overhaul aims to eliminate the "dead space" that fosters antisocial behaviour. The plans also aim to improve existing cycle storage facilities and create a new retail opportunity, contributing to the local economy.
The proposal includes a covered stair access to the north of the site, linking the ground floor level with the first-floor station foyer, which will enhance passenger accessibility and approach from street level while also making the station entrance more noticeable. Access via the existing escalators will remain unchanged, while access to the secure cycle store will be through an electronic fob/pass code system and will only be open during station operating hours.
A date for the plans to be presented to city planners has not yet been confirmed.