Historic London buildings threatened by Crossrail 2 from Wimbledon to Tottenham

Crossrail 2 is planned to run through tunnel from Wimbledon to Tottenham
The new stations will require the demolition of more than a dozen important historic buildings, according to campaigners
Among locations affected are Grade II-listed houses and 300-year-old pubs

Hugo Gye for MailOnline

Published:
19:10 GMT, 1 January 2016

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Updated:
22:48 GMT, 1 January 2016

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Plans for a new railway running across London are set to destroy parts of the capital’s ‘unique and historic environment’, according to campaigners.

More than a dozen century-old buildings are under threat from Crossrail 2, which will run in a new tunnel beneath London from Wimbledon in the south to Tottenham in the north.

Among the historic properties likely to be demolished under the current plans are listed houses, Victorian pubs and grand hotel buildings.

The Victorian Society has now called on transport authorities to change the route of the railway – which will not open to passengers for another 20 years – so that it only affects buildings with less architectural value.

Destructive: The Crossrail 2 route, shown here overlaying a map of London, will lead to the demolition of several historic buildings, according to the Victorian Society

Threat: This 19th-century building is at risk from the plans for a new north-south rail route

Historic: Angel station, the first to be built underground, may be seriously affected by the Crossrail works

Crossrail 2 is the successor to the first Crossrail line, which runs east to west and is currently under construction.

It will link the Surrey and Hertfordshire commuter belts as well as providing a new north-south route under the capital, bringing new transport links to areas such as Chelsea and Hackney.

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But when the proposed route was published in October, it became clear that most of the stations would have to be redeveloped, casting doubt on the future of historic buildings in the area.

The worst-affected neighbourhoods include Victoria, Tottenham Court Road and Angel in Islington, according to the Victorian Society.

In Victoria – which has already suffered the loss of many of its historic structures over the past decades – a 19th-century hotel building sitting above two rows of shops opposite Victoria Station would have to be demolished.

Expanse: This entire block of homes and businesses opposite Victoria station is under threat

Handsome: But this shop near Tottenham Court Road could be demolished under the plans

Consultation: The Victorian Society is pleading with transport bosses to save buildings such as this pub in the Euston area

The new station at Tottenham Court Road could have a serious effect on Soho, with the buildings under threat including the Curzon cinema and a pair of Grade II-listed shops, one of which dates back to the 1700s.

Even train stations themselves are not safe from the radical plans – Angel station, the first Tube stop to be built deep underground in 1890, may have to be totally rebuilt to accommodate the Crossrail 2 works.

One of the most vulnerable areas under the current proposal is Wimbledon, which will mark the southern end of the tunnel where Crossrail trains connect to above-ground services.

The Victorian Society warns that a ‘landmark’ pub with 17th-century origins, a former church and the Grade II-listed old fire station will all be demolished if the plans go ahead.

Other areas where important buildings may be lost include Euston and Dalston, the charity claims.

Earmarked: Among the buildings in Wimbledon to be threatened is this former church, which currently houses a branch of Boots

Listed: The Grade II-listed Wimbledon fire station, built in 1904, is another building in the area under threat

Danger: The ‘particularly attractive’ 19th-century Prince of Wales pub in Wimbledon could be demolished

Christopher Costelloe, director of the Victorian Society, told MailOnline: ‘The society appreciates that Crossrail 2’s huge advantages for London cannot be achieved without demolishing some buildings.

‘However, every effort must be made to use those sites which would minimise Crossrail 2’s impact on London’s unique and historic environment.

‘Our suggestions would ensure that Crossrail 2 brings people to places that are distinctive and that retain their best historic buildings.’

Transport for London and Network Rail have launched a consultation into the proposals, with members of the public able to submit comments until January 8.

Michèle Dix, TfL’s managing director for Crossrail 2, said: ‘When planning Crossrail 2 we have looked to minimise the impact on local residents and communities as much as possible.

‘While some buildings, including some Victorian buildings, are shown to be within proposed Crossrail 2 worksites they may not necessarily be needed during construction.

‘Demolition is always our last resort and where buildings are needed we will try to ensure the façade is retained to maintain the character of the local area.’

The idea of an underground link between Chelsea and Hackney was first proposed in the 1970s, but was not adopted as official policy until the past few years.

The £27billion line is still several years away from starting construction, with 2030 suggested as the earliest possible date it could begin operating.

Supporters of the plans insist it is necessary to take the pressure off London’s creaking transport network, with the population of the capital and of Britain as a whole expected to grow by several million people.

The original Crossrail was itself a source of controversy due to the demolition of buildings such as the popular Astoria gig venue in Soho.