Request ID: FOI-3126-2223 Date published: 20 April 2023
You asked
Please can you send me a break down of costs incurred so far and expected in the lifespan of the Old Street station upgrade scheme.
We answered
Our Ref: FOI-3126-2223
Thank you for your request received on 23 February 2023 asking for information about the Old Street Station upgrade. Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Environmental Information Regulations and our information access policy. I can confirm that we do hold the information you require. The Old Street Project is an extremely complex project in a busy central London location on the Inner Ring Road with a London Underground and Network Rail station underneath the road. A key requirement of the project has been to ensure the road and station remain open and accessible throughout the works, which has further complicated the delivery challenges. Once complete, the former Old Street roundabout will have permanent, fully segregated cycle lanes and cycle-only traffic signals around the re-designed junction, alongside new pedestrian crossings to make it much easier to navigate the area on foot. Work on the new cycle lanes and pedestrian crossings is expected to be complete this summer. We are also carrying out upgrade work to Old Street station, which will see the creation of two new passenger entrances and new lifts to an upgraded retail concourse. While good progress has been made on the project, the pandemic had a major impact on construction work, with the site shut for three months. This was followed by months of social distancing measures in a confined work site, to reduce the risk of infection among those working at the site. The scope of the work needed to deliver the project has also increased significantly. During excavation work for the project, previously unrecorded utilities infrastructure was found which required careful and safe removal. Construction of the new entrances for the station, that was built in the 1960s, was delayed by the state and complexity of the existing mechanical and electrical systems. Though these systems are safe, equipment to connect them to the new entrances and retail concourse is no longer available from suppliers and needed to be designed and replaced completely to conform to current regulations and standards. TfL is working closely with its contractor to complete the project by early 2024. This includes the station entrances and lifts to the retail concourse, which will generate ongoing commercial income for TfL. We are working closely with its contractor to complete the project by early 2024. Please find the requested information in the table below. Around two thirds of the costs are for station works and the remaining third for surface works. Please note these figures are correct up to the date of your request:
Old Street Station and Roundabout Project Costs
Cost to Date (£m)
Estimated Final Costs (£m)
Project Management & Engineering
£9.00
£10.66
Design
£11.50
£12.08
3rd Party Stakeholders & Utility Providers
£9.08
£9.17
Surveys & Enabling Works
£3.80
£4.85
Construction
£70.10
£88.33
Risk*
£0.00
£7.20
£103.48
£132.30
*The allowance of £7.20m is to cover for any identified risks materialising on the project which could cause further delay or disruption and impact on the completion date and associated costs. The estimated final costs may be lower if the risk share is not utilised. If this is not the information you are looking for please do not hesitate to contact me. Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal. Yours sincerely
Gemma Jacob Senior FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
