The emerging neighbourhood to the north of King’s Cross and St Pancras stations is the product of the largest mixed-use development in single ownership to be masterplanned and developed in central London for over 150 years. 8m sq ft across 50 new and restored buildings, 26 acres of public space, including 20 new streets, and (ultimately) some 40,000 people living, working and studying, are just a few of the statistics. 

Argent’s involvement began in 2000 with construction commencing in 2008 after a lengthy, but collaborative and ultimately positive planning process. With some 5-6 years of construction still ahead, it remains an unfinished work, but it is already attracting 10 million people a year into a place that was until recently considered a no-go area for most. In the words of Edwin Heathcote at the Financial Times, King’s Cross is “….the perfect mix of grittiness and shininess, simultaneously a symbol of London’s industrial and engineering past and the creative present.” Nick Searl is a partner at Argent (the developer) and has been involved at King’s Cross for 10 years. He will take us through the story of how the development was conceived and how a focus on people has been central to the way it has been designed and is now being managed.

Photo | ©John Sturrock