Forum topic: Palmers Green station: how step-free access will be provided

A recent planning application reveals how Network Rail intends to make Palmers Green station accessible by installing lifts down to both platforms.

Network Rail's plan for making Palmers Green station accessible involves creating high-level walkways (shown here in green) linking the booking office to lifts down to platform level. The rectangular vertical blocks contain the lift shafts.

Planning application 23/03311/P18PA (more accurately, an application for prior approval), received by Enfield Council on 2nd October, includes drawings of proposed alterations designed to provide step-free access from street to train at Palmers Green Station and a covering letter explaining the rationale for the chosen design solutions with regard to their practicality, cost and impact on the Lakes Estate Conservation Area (the station is in the CA).

The proposal involves constructing two high-level covered walkways connecting the existing station building to lift shafts running down to the platform. On platform 1 the lift shaft will lbe roughly level with the bottom of the stairs and Annita Correia's little cafe/kiosk will be repurposed to become the platform level lift lobby. On platform 2 the lift will be located further north, not quite as far as the gate to the car park, meaning that the walkway is much longer, in view of which it will include "perching" points for people to rest.

The lift shafts will have brick cladding designed to match the walls of the existing station building, but the walkways willl have steel and perspex sides and a glass-fibre reinforced plastic awning.

The two new covered walkways for accessing the lifts will be on the outside of the two staircases

With regard to the choice of lifts (as opposed to ramps) and their location, the covering letter states:

[T]he lifts have obviously to be located at the station, but to locate these at the northern end of the station is uneconomic as it creates an additional footbridge which is increases the maintenance burden on the taxpayer and also penalises mobility impaired passengers in forcing them to walk further. Equally the provision of ramps instead of lifts would similarly involve further distances to walk, as well as being more visually intrusive and reduce the car park capacity of the station. It therefore makes economic sense to make judicious use of the existing station overbridge to run stairs and lifts off it.

As regards "whether the design of lifts is injurious to the amenity of the neighbourhood", the letter states:

Preserving the original character of the building has been a key consideration when planning the works and has been achieved by leaving the front elevation completely untouched with all works taking place to the rear of the building. Working around the existing platform canopies, the new elements use materials and simple detailing to avoid detracting from the existing station identity. The character of the proposal is in keeping with the existing station building with a consistent and clear use of materials and detailing to provide a simple architectural identity.

The design principles are catered around the local community. The proposals are sympathetic to and have been informed by the local identity and character. The addition of lift shafts and walkways will be integrated into the site via the use of materials to match the existing. The lift structures will be viewed quite properly as modern additions to the existing station but do not detract from its character nor from the character of the Conservation Area.

The proposal also envisages bringing the stairs from the station building to platforms up to modern standards and an improved footpath running between the car park and Aldermans Hill.

When will the lifts be installed?

In May this year Dave Cockle from the Enfield Society succeeded in obtaining some information about the dates that the work will be carried out:

"We expect to be starting on site by the end of this calendar year, with the lifts entering into service mid-2024."

More recently, a presentation to Transport for London's Customer Service and Operational Performance Panel included the following:

Network Rail is currently on-site delivering step-free projects at 13 of its stations. Petts Wood and Streatham are expected to complete during autumn 2023. Barnes, Bexley, Isleworth, Mill Hill Broadway, Motspur Park, Palmers Green, Plumstead, Seven Sisters, Teddington, Tooting and Wandsworth Town are all currently expected to complete during 2024.

So, in theory at least, Network Rail is "currently on-site delivering" the step-free project. As the Russians say, "We'll live for a while, we'll see".