The rail infrastructure firm has dropped its development partner Sellar and architect Herzog & de Meuron to recast the ambitious project after coming under fire for the massing of large offices above the station.

The previous plans submitted last year for a £1.5bn wholesale redevelopment of London Liverpool Street generated thousands of objections from the public. It also attracted criticism from Historic England which described the scale of the plan to the original 1875 station as ‘grossly disproportionate’.

Scrapped previous design using overstation offices to fund £450m of station improvements

Now Network Rail has appointed a new architect, ACME, to draw up a refreshed plan that has just gone out to consultation.

Under the new plans being brought forward by Network Rail Property, the commercial element has been scaled down and set back from the historic station frontage.

Plans are also dropped to incorporate the historic Grade II listed Andaz hotel into the station and build a replacement hotel with rooftop swimming pool above 10 floors of offices.

The focus is also strongly on improving passenger experience and capacity.

This includes increasing the size of the station concourse plus more lifts and escalators to improve passenger flows through the station.

Robin Dobson, Group Property Director at Network Rail Property, said: “Investing in transport infrastructure is key to unlocking future economic growth.

“We’ve spent time talking and listening: our latest plans celebrate Victorian features including the original train shed and the Great Eastern Hotel.

” Network Rail Property is leading a new team with a new approach which will respect the station’s unique heritage – simple in design, embracing London’s mix of the old with the new.

“A new office building on top of the station concourse will generate the money to pay for these improvements.”