The cash goes towards the £90m needed for improvement works outside each of the 28 stations.

Ambitious plans being developed by Crossrail will see improvements delivered well beyond the immediate station footprints.

The aim is to create vibrant new spaces to knit in with the wider local area for commuters, residents and visitors to enjoy.

Crossrail is leading the design work with the improvements to be jointly delivered by local authorities and developers.

Crossrail will be the catalyst for wider development at many locations along the new route.

Several developers including Land Securities, Grosvenor and Derwent London have highlighted the importance of major public realm improvements to support these new developments.

The costs of the planned public realm improvements are in the region of £90m – £28 million has already been secured through the Crossrail budget with a further £30m provided by Transport for London.

Under the wider public realm development plans, improvements would include:

92,000 square metres of improved public space created outside the new Crossrail stations in central London – the equivalent to 4 Trafalgar Squares or 13 football pitches
Wider pavements, new pedestrianised areas and additional traffic calming measures outside stations;

Transport interchange improvements including improved connections with buses, taxis, cycle parking, and walking routes with improved signage and way-finding;

Improved public areas designed to integrate with local streets and buildings, stimulating future development and regeneration around Crossrail stations;

New trees planted, along with new seating areas and meeting places.

Andrew Wolstenholme, Crossrail’s Chief Executive said: “Crossrail’s public realm plans are deliberately ambitious, exceeding our own requirements and raising the bar on what any other rail schemes have delivered before.

“We are using the huge momentum of this project to encourage further investment in new and improved public spaces and regeneration over a much wider area around Crossrail stations.

“The additional funding secured from TfL is an important piece in the jigsaw and takes us a step closer towards delivering a legacy of improved public areas and new open space throughout the Crossrail route.”

Crossrail is working on the public realm plans with a range of leading architects and designers including John McAslan, BDP, Gillespies, Urban Movement, Burns+Nice and Atkins.

Initial urban realm design work has been completed for 16 stations so far, with masterplans for another 12 stations to be completed by the end of 2013.