Impact of Multi-Station Aggregate Hub Redevelopment on Surrounding Urban Areas: A Case Study of London’s King’s Cross

Abstract

Multi-station aggregation hubs—interconnected transport nodes in high-intensity urban areas—significantly influence metropolitan growth, yet systematic research on their regional development impacts remains limited. This study examines the redevelopment of London’s King’s Cross–St Pancras hub using spatiotemporal data from 1996 to 2023. Three analytical zones (Core Zone, Central Impact Zone, and Wider Impact Zone) were analysed through GIS-based spatial analysis and qualitative methods to evaluate transport networks, functional vitality, and development intensity. The findings demonstrate that redevelopment intensity is strongly associated with proximity to the transport hub, with renewed building areas distributed in a 25:11:8 ratio across the three zones. The core zone experienced substantial growth in consumer and commercial functions, evolving into a vibrant mixed-use creative district. The study identifies four principal spatial renewal strategies—brownfield redevelopment, demolition and reconstruction, functional retrofitting, and vertical or horizontal expansion—and highlights the catalytic role of integrated transport infrastructure in stimulating urban regeneration. The findings provide practical insights for planning and redeveloping multi-station transport hubs in high-density cities, particularly in rapidly urbanising contexts such as China.