Crosstree, Native Land and Chelsfield are battling it out to become Transport for London’s joint venture partner for the long-awaited redevelopment of South Kensington station.
The three developers are understood to have been shortlisted for the complex brief by TfL, which is being advised by Savills, ahead of a final tender process that will conclude by the end of this year.
A proposed scheme for the iconic London site shows a technical, mixed-use scheme that will sensitively restore a grade II listed arcade and provide 30,809 sq ft of retail, 24,438 sq ft of residential and 12,853 sq ft of offices.
South Kensington station is a familiar landmark that welcomes more than 34m District and Circle and Piccadilly line customers a year to visit London’s museum quarter.
All three shortlisted parties have strong track records in complex mixed-use development in London, although Chelsfield’s business has recently been more focused on luxury retail investment in continental Europe.
TfL chose not to pick from its 13-developer-strong delivery partner panel, which it uses by default for more straightforward land disposals.
The existing South Kensington station site extends to 35,941 sq ft of residential, office and retail space in and around the main listed arcade. The site also includes land along the southern edge of the station on Pelham Street. TfL plans to improve the commercial and retail units of the station and refurbish the four-storey buildings at 20-34 Thurloe Street, with the potential to place a single storey on the distinctive Bullnose Building.
The scheme will also deliver step-free access to the pedestrian subway leading to nearby cultural destinations including the Science Museum, Imperial College, the Natural History Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum.
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