Architecture Update: Changing trains

PLANS TO restore St Pancras station, London, for use as a new European terminal have been unveiled by British Rail's Architect & Design Group. It is a radical alternative to Sir Norman Foster's scheme for a pounds 137m concourse building at King's Cross.

Nicky Derbyshire, director of of the group, says: 'A lot of the impetus of the Foster proposals came from the desire to create one new terminus at King's Cross-St Pancras. Our idea accepts that we have two stations and, as we did in our remodelling of Liverpool Street station, we will make the best of the existing buildings.'

The designs have been welcomed by the Borough of Camden and heritage bodies, which believe they will cause less planning blight and disruption to the area than Foster's. They also welcome the retention of the Great Northern Hotel. A report on both options will go to the Department of Transport in October.