Your guide to London's culture and transport news and events taking place across the city Published on 29th April 2025 by ianVisits in Transport News Nearly a decade after plans were first announced Knightsbridge tube station is finally step-free from street to platform after a long-delayed set of lifts opened The ability to add lifts to the station was thanks in part to a large above-ground redevelopment and the fact that a set of old lift shafts from the days before escalators still existed at the station one of which was around the back of the busy Bromton Road That entrance was closed in 1934 when the lifts were replaced with escalators and a replacement entrance was built on Brompton Road the lift shafts and the corridors to them remained with the lift shafts used for ventilation and the old pedestrian tunnels still lined with original green and blue tiles In any other situation, they’d probably be earmarked for a Hidden London tour, but in 2016 the Knightsbridge Estate and its developer looking to redevelop the above-ground buildings agreed to provide a new entrance for the tube station and enable the reopening of one of the old lift shafts The new entrance opened in 2022 but it’s taken until now to open the lifts as well The lifts were expected to open in 2020 but were delayed by construction works Then due to open in 2023 but there have been problems with the power supply capacity that took some time to fix as they required a second supply to be provided by the grid There was also an issue with extra heat in the customer area coming from the new lifts which had to be extracted Due to the old layout, the lifts are not next to the main entrance, but down a side passage, Hooper’s Court where a new smal entrance into the tube station has opened it looks just as you might expect a tube station entrance to a huge group of tourists were redirected back out to find the main entrance a few yards along the road The entrance is lined with classic ox-blood red tiles of the type that would have framed the original entrance — and still does at the far end of the passageway — and inside is a tile-lined space in classic Leslie Green colours The ticket hall has two card only ticket machines and a train arrivals screen plus four ticket barriers — two wide and two classic widths and because it’s a walk-through design people go to the left to go down and arrive coming out of the right side there are two corridors — entry and exit — leading from the lift shaft towards the platforms Regular users of other tube stations that still rely on lifts will recognise the restored and cleaned up lift waiting area as a classic from the early tube stations there’s either a set of stairs down to the platforms which therefore gives you full step-free access from the street to the platform Although aimed at people needing accessible access at the station As there are stairs between the platform and the link corridor it probably won’t be too long before some people find this a more convenient route if their destination is the Hooper’s Court area such as the restoration of the turquoise blue tiles in the old passenger tunnels which have been retained alongside their more modern equivalents they’re a bit narrower than ideal for large motorised wheelchairs and only have buttons on one side rather than both there’s also a useful guide to step-free access at other stations along the Piccadilly line to help people plan a journey Although the ticket office to platform parts of the upgrade are fully completed there’s still work to be done at the platform level where there were still some no-entry signs and a lot of builders’ cladding to remove Knightsbridge tube station is now accessible This website has been running now for over a decade, and while advertising revenue contributes to funding the website, it doesn't cover the costs. That is why I have set up a facility with DonorBox where you can contribute to the costs of the website and time invested in writing and research for the news articles It's very similar to the way The Guardian and many smaller websites are now seeking to generate an income in the face of rising costs and declining advertising Whether it's a one-off donation or a regular giver every additional support goes a long way to covering the running costs of this website and keeping you regularly topped up doses of Londony news and facts If you like what you read on here, then please support the website here particularly the tiles – a Hidden London in plain sight She/they covered it on the programme the other year albeit it was a bit confusing as to whether the Hoopers bit was new reclad for this project or just had the overpainting removed Do you know if there are platform bumps at this station (or plans to install them) and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" and the latest news published on ianVisits You can unsubscribe at any time from my weekly emails © ianVisits 12 Aug 2024 By Already registered? please Log in to continue Try Property Week For Free to finish this article To access this article TRY FOR FREE NOW Don't want full access? 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SIGN IN here to continue Property Week’s 2025 Power of Proptech survey seeks to explore the robustness of this digital infrastructure and how prepared businesses are to meet the technological challenges facing the property sector Penny Churchill takes a look at Court Lodge it's not hard in England to find an 18th century country house with sprawling grounds It's also not hard to find a house with a view of the London skyline The house is — as you’d hope at this price — huge It offers 10,786sq ft of elegant living space on three floors gym and vast kitchen/breakfast room on the ground floor Built in the early 18th century of red brick under a hipped tiled roof Court Lodge stands next to the Norman village church of St-Martin-of-Tours According to Hasted’s History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent (1797) the village was part of the manor of Chelsfield which ‘was acquired in 1758 by London wine merchant married Mary Tattersall and thus became Lord of the Manor of Chelsfield living at Court Lodge for six months of the year from then until his death in 1793 Crosby’s claim to fame as Court Lodge’s most celebrated resident (commemorated by a Blue Plaque on Church Road) derives from 1771 he was hailed as a champion of press freedom when he was briefly imprisoned for allowing parliamentary proceedings to be published in what then was a breach of parliamentary privilege the manor of Chelsfield descended to the Waring family who were lords of the manor and principal landowners until 1945 Court Lodge was let to a succession of wealthy London businessmen among them the royal goldsmith and jeweller George Asprey Little changed since Asprey’s day; the west-facing gardens at Court Lodge are predominantly laid to pasture interspersed with a variety of specimen trees The manicured gardens around the house comprise landscaped lawns enclosed by a demesne wall and established hedging A paved terrace behind the house is the setting for a swimming pool and an oak-frame studio/pool house The owners have further enhanced the grounds by acquiring the former estate-workers’ cottages two of which are currently let on Assured Shorthold Tenancies (ASTs) They have also implemented the planning consent granted for a new three-bedroom detached cottage For sale via Savills at £10m — see more details and pictures. Chelsfield Lakes Golf Centre has put itself at the forefront of golf technology with the installation of a TrackMan range system that is set transform the driving range experience for players of all skill levels. Professionals experienced amateurs and beginners can all take advantage of the same state-of-the-art technology used by some of the world’s top players at the popular Kent venue with users being given access to a wide array of tools and games that are built for both performance and entertainment.For the more experienced player the TrackMan system offers a host of different modes which accurately track and record ball speed, carry precise distances, and shot-shaping via a 27-inch touchscreen – vital knowledge for taking your golf game to the next level.With the range reopening in December, the investment also includes top-of-the-range Srixon balls as standard, refurbished Astroturf added bay dividers and a host of new targets to aim at out on the range.Should golfers need to work on their swing with a coach or be fitted for some new equipment there are two additional rooms equipped with a separate Trackman 4 video system, designed to analyse a player’s swing to the finest detail the interactive screens provide several fun games and even allow users to load up some of the world’s most top courses and play them as though they were there Even without a golf club in hand the range offers plenty to keep visitors entertained charging stations and the opportunity to order food from the comfort of the benches in the bays.Nick Hughes said: “We are incredibly excited to open the range up to the public so that people can see all the work we have put in Not only have we made massive changes to the bays, but the new Trackman system has the opportunity to totally revolutionise driving range experiences.“We really believe it is going to be a massive hit with both experienced and new golfers, and with all the different options and games that the system provides, we can say with confidence that there is going to be something for everyone to enjoy on the range.” Following the news of the theft of over £2 million of stock from its Manchester warehouse last weekend Worldwide Golf Brands reports that the business is 'back up and running' with minimal disruption to the vast majority of its customers the business growth agency for UK and Irish golf clubs has launched a new marketing system that has delivered rapid advances in the service they deliver Brocket Hall has announced that world-renowned putting coach Phil Kenyon is to open a new state-of-the-art putting studio at the Hertfordshire-based venue GolfBusinessNews.com (GBN) is for the many thousands of people who work in the golf business all around the world We cover the full range of topics both on and off the course We aim to supply essential information both quickly and accurately in a format which is easy to use We are independent of all special interest groups Click here to sign up for our free twice weekly golf industry news summary View the latest newsletter here 5/7 High StreetDorchester-on-ThamesOxfordshire OX10 7HHUnited Kingdom publisher@golfbusinessnews.com © 1999-2025 e.GolfBusiness.com Limited | All Rights Reserved. | GBN Privacy Policy Chelsfield Lakes Golf Centre has enhanced its driving range experience with the installation of a new TrackMan range system following a £500,000 investment into the Kent-based facility The state-of-the-art system is now open to the public and has transformed the driving range experience for players of all skill levels giving its users the chance to try out a variety of games and modes via a 27-inch touchscreen in each bay The TrackMan software allows users to track and view ball speed all crucial information to help golfers to better understand their play As well as acting as feedback for the established golfer the system will also entertain new players with a range of enjoyable games such as ‘closest to the pin’ and ‘longest drive’ with a view of further increasing Chelsfield Lakes’ offering to the novice player and encouraging an increased participation in the game The perfect location to try the sport in groups the newly-completed bays all come with charging stations heaters and the ability to order food from the comfort of the benches making it the ideal spot to try a new hobby or have fun with friends or family bay dividers and the highest quality Srixon range balls are among some of the other changes and additions as part of the driving range refurbishment The Club Room bar has also been rebranded to the TrackMan Bar as part of the revamp of the range and will be serving a new menu of delicious food and beverages as well as showing Sky Sports for guests to enjoy live football If golfers are looking to get fitted for some new clubs or hone their swing ahead of another packed golf season there are two additional rooms which have been equipped with a separate Trackman 4 video system designed to help the club’s PGA professionals analyse a player’s swing in great detail general manager at Chelsfield Lakes Golf Centre said: “We are delighted to have the TrackMan range open to the public now and see our vision come to life We really wanted to broaden the appeal of the centre and encourage more people to try and enjoy golf and this addition will really put us on the map as not only a fantastic golf club but also an entertainment venue for the local community to enjoy “The TrackMan screens help to offer a totally new golfing experience to players with the various games and modes all of which help to make the range a far more welcoming activity to new golfers as well as giving the more experienced player all the tools they need to improve their game and lower their handicap.” 18 Jan 2013 By Welcome to building.co.uk. This site uses cookies. Read our policy A festival focused on the future of digital construction By 2013-01-14T10:00:00+00:00 Property developer Sir Stuart Lipton to team up with Stanhope veteran Peter Rogers Property developer Sir Stuart Lipton is to quit Chelsfield Partners in order to form a new development vehicle with the co-founder and technical director of development manger of Stanhope The Times reports today that the new vehicle will be known as Lipton Rogers It will target large complex schemes in London with fundraising for the vehicle due to start this year Sir Stuart told the Times: “The action is in places where traditionally we have not had to look where consumers don’t want plain glass boxes for offices It is in the tough times like this that the property market gets innovative We have to think about new ways of doing things and large and complicated projects are our bag.” Lipton is famous for developing the Broadgate complex in the 1980s and his move means that the existing Chelsfield will not take on any further projects Chelsfield is currently preferred developer on the huge Silvertown Quays scheme in the Royal Docks south of the Olympic Park Chelsfield itself will relaunch with the same investors corporate takeover activity and refinancing in the real estate sector Property magnate Elliot Bernerd will remain on the board Mr Burrow told the Times that the “’new’ Chelsfield is going to look at going in a different direction and being more fleet of foot We want to look at investments and corporate transactions.” Greater London Authority reported to have appointed preferred bidder Bosses at Wates and Hill Group said that the BSR needs to be resourced properly and “isn’t currently competent” DESNZ will boost green skills under its Warm Homes Plan through financial awards  Former Interserve subsidiary posts turnover of £542m for 2024 150 Aldersgate was fully pre-let to social media giant prior to completion and includes new terraces a reconfigured entrance and a public art installation Site powered by Webvision Cloud Ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters were called to Chelsfield Hill in Orpington in the middle of the night People living nearby were told to keep their doors and windows shut as smoke spread across neighbouring streets The A21 was closed between Rushmore Hill and Hewitts roundabout with motorists diverted around the local area said: "Crews worked extremely hard to bring this large fire under control "The fire created a lot of smoke and we advised people in the nearby area to keep their windows and doors shut." The fire was brought under control by 6:30am and the cause of the blaze is under investigation Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know.. Accessibility | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Modern Slavery Statement You have reached the limit for gifting for this month The Diesel store will get a new shopfit on a parallel with the brand's recent opening on Madison Avenue in New York Chelsfield Lakes introduced their newest female golfer to their latest Ladies Beginners Fun Day – a six-week-old baby Jeorgie – the new daughter of club professional Jemma Aldridge – was clearly overcome by the excitement as she then slept through the prize-giving presentation while 24 new golfers continued to take their baby steps in the game But the initiative to attract more women golfers driven by Aldridge at the popular club in Orpington has seen the group continue to grow as golfers turn up for regular coaching sessions and to learn the sport with their weekly roll-up The first Ladies Beginners Fun Day of 2017 saw further success for Chelsfield Lakes' youngsters as 15-year-old pair Catherine Penfold and Joley Buckland joined up with Suzanne Church and Gillian Pile to take the team honours in the nine-hole competition Jane Kee delivered a stunning victory for the in the individual competition as she shot a superb gross 36 off her 19 handicap for a nett 17 which saw the handicap committee making hasty arrangements in time for the next competition on June 4 Head professional Matt Barber said: "It's brilliant see the interest in the event and we're looking forward to seeing more women golfers getting involved in the future "Jemma has done a fantastic job and we've seen the interest continue to increase massively over the past few months The ladies are eagerly awaiting her return from maternity leave but it was great of her to come down to present the prizes although Jeorgie decided she would rather take a nap at that point "It's not a serious competition and the handicaps are based on playing ability – but we will have a very close look at a few for next time Jane will certainly not be playing off 19 again after a round like that "But it's just good fun with a friendly atmosphere and is open to anyone who wants to turn up it gets women interested in playing golf." The club's Academy Membership – open to both women and men – costs £500 per year alongside enrolment on the club's coaching programme and has also grown in recent times as beginners are given tuition and course experience as they take up the game Barber said: "We are always delighted to welcome those who want to get into golf or just want to give it a try to see if they enjoy it We see a lot of those people coming back and we hope that continues." For further information, visit www.chelsfieldlakes.co.uk email: pro@chelsfieldlakes.co.uk or telephone call 01689 896 266 Former AT&T/Sony Building Set to Begin Multi-Tenant Commercial Leasing for First Time in Building's History 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Olayan America and Chelsfield today unveiled plans for 550 Madison Avenue in Midtown Manhattan including the selection of internationally acclaimed architecture and design firm Snøhetta to reimagine the lower levels of the office tower and update the building with state-of -art systems Olayan America acquired the property in May 2016 for $1.4 billion as a multi-generational asset The $300 million renovation of 550 Madison formerly known as the AT&T Building and then the Sony Building The plan modernizes the interior spaces to meet the needs of the modern office worker the proposed public space will nearly double in size to create a lush and verdant outdoor garden for the public's enjoyment While the recognizable top of the tower will remain a fixture of the New York City skyline as it has since its completion in 1984 the new design will transform the base into an inviting street front extending the lively activity of Madison Avenue further south to 55th Street The renovation is the first major project to be announced for New York City's East Midtown since its revitalization plan was approved earlier this year "We're pleased to be working hand in hand with Chelsfield and Snøhetta to achieve a new vision for 550 Madison our team is committed to the long-term success of 550 Madison and the broader Midtown community," said Tony Fusco Managing Director and head of real estate at Olayan America "The plans developed offer a vibrant enhancement of Philip Johnson's postmodern design and we believe the renovation will create a space that continues to draw top-tier tenants for generations to come We look forward to restoring 550 Madison to prominence as a premier location for office and retail in Midtown as well as an urban oasis for the public." and we're thrilled to work with our partners at Olayan America and Snøhetta to revitalize the property," said David Laurie we have planned a building that puts employees first to a deeply relaxing and serene public urban garden right next door 550 Madison will be the office building that employees across New York and beyond are nudging their bosses to move in to." Snøhetta's design will breathe new life into the building's public retail and office spaces for the contemporary needs of one of the world's most recognized avenues "The re-imagined 550 Madison reflects how we work and live in New York today," said Craig Dykers founding partner and architect at Snøhetta "The design sensitively transforms a sculpturally monumental building and improves the experience of the building where it meets the street By updating this inward-looking tower for contemporary society It's been exciting to work on this project with the teams at Chelsfield and Olayan and build on our growing portfolio of impactful projects in New York." 550 Madison was originally designed by Philip Johnson for single-tenant occupancy serving as the eponymous world headquarters for its corporate owners Since the departure of the Sony Corporation over a year-and-a-half ago Snøhetta's design approach connects the life of the building with the life of the street its fortress-like base created an uninviting street front which was then further compromised by a series of ground-floor renovations that effectively visually closed the building off from its surroundings the stone façade will be partially replaced at eye level by an undulating glass curtainwall the reconceived façade dramatically highlights the multi-story arched entry while revealing the craftsmanship of the building's existing steel structure Scalloped glass references the sculpted forms of fluted stone columns creating a lively and identifiable public face for passersby.  With this increased transparency and first 2 levels of the building will become part of the vibrant energy of the street.  550 Madison's proposed public space will be nearly doubled in size and converted to an outdoor garden providing a verdant landscape with water features and trees as a respite from the dense urban fabric of Manhattan The existing mid-block passageway at the rear of the tower connecting 55th and 56th Street will be transformed into a serene public space The design will allow access to open air and daylight The garden is designed to encourage a variety of human experiences: to meet over lunch and socialize With more than 10 times the amount of planted area as the previous public space the garden will provide a flourishing urban ecosystem A sensitively curated planting palette will celebrate the dynamic seasonality of the Northeastern climate transformed over the course of the year by colorful flowering trees and bulbs in spring and the stark elegance of evergreens in winter These plantings will allow smaller species of birds and butterflies to flourish in their new environment The renewed 550 Madison aspires to be a leader for commercial tower renovations in the future WELL-certification for healthy materials and well-being and Wired-certification for digital infrastructure.  It will employ a Dedicated Outdoor Air Ventilation System (DOAS) ensuring tenants have access to a continuous supply of clean fresh air while consuming less energy than typical VAV mechanical ventilation systems In leading the transformation of East Midtown for the rapid changes of the contemporary workforce 550 Madison will ensure the area remains a thriving world-class business district.   The renovated 550 Madison will be ready to hand over to tenants in 2019. Lead brokers for the project are Mary Ann Tighe, CEO, New York Tri-State Region, CBRE; Howard Fiddle, Vice Chairman, CBRE; and Scott L. Gottlieb, Vice Chairman, CBRE. More information is available at 550Madison.com About Olayan America Olayan America is an investment arm of The Olayan Group multinational enterprise with an actively managed portfolio of international investments and diverse commercial and industrial operations in the Middle East where Olayan America is based and where the Group has had a continuous presence for more than 45 years Investing both directly and in partnership with leading developers the Group has a diverse real estate portfolio that includes commercial Among them are a number of well-known trophy assets: the Paris Portfolio of historic buildings in that city's prestigious 8th Arrondissement the Knightsbridge Estate in central London About Chelsfield As a leading visionary property developer Chelsfield takes pride in its ability to unlock the outstanding potential behind each of its commercial Chelsfield inspires some of the most influential development and investment projects in London and around the world from Paris to New York and now Hong Kong to Tokyo With a strong strategic approach to new markets and opportunities and with $9.4bn of transactions since 2005 Chelsfield continues to enhance its reputation for consistently delivering market-leading returns for investors Chelsfield takes pride in building long term relationships with both partners and investors and in partnering with the best in class for each of its projects Snøhetta has designed some of the world's most notable public and cultural projects Snøhetta kick-started its career in 1989 with the competition-winning entry for the new library of Alexandria This was later followed by the commission for the Norwegian National Opera in Oslo the National September 11 Memorial Museum Pavilion at the World Trade Center in New York City and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art Expansion in California the practice has maintained its original trans-disciplinary approach interior and brand design in all of its projects Snøhetta received the World Architecture Award for the Bibliotheca Alexandrina and the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet and the Aga Kahn Prize for Architecture for the Alexandria Library the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet has also garnered the Mies van der Rohe European Union Prize for Architecture and the EDRA (Environmental Design Research Association) Great Places Award as well as the European Prize for Urban Public Space The International Architecture Award and The Global Award for Sustainable Architecture in 2010 Snøhetta was named the Wall Street Journal's Architecture Innovator of the Year Contact:Christopher Bastardi212-729-2495[email protected] http://550Madison.com Do not sell or share my personal information: TrendingCommercialNew YorkALondon firm resurfaces in NY with $50M Soho dealChelsfield was last active in New York in the 1990s before being taken private London-based Chelsfield Group picked up the ground lease at 580 Broadway, an ornate office building in Soho spanning 128,000 square feet, for $50 million, real estate records show Miami’s BridgeInvest provided $35 million in financing for the acquisition Nathaniel Mosery’s Broad-Prince Realty owns the land beneath the building “We believe in the vibrancy of Soho,” said Chelsfield America director Paul Apollonio describing the neighborhood as a place where New Yorkers live “It’s unusual to find such a big property in Soho.” Chelsfield plans to renovate the building with an eye toward “the future of workplace,” according to its website Leasing the ground beneath 580 Broadway gives Chelsfield the right to collect rent from building tenants The deal represents a new chapter in New York for Chelsfield, which was active in the city in the 1990s — converting the Westbury hotel to apartments as well as owning 379 and 387 West Broadway in a joint venture with Ralph Lauren Group — before being taken private in 2004 SIGN UPChelsfield reopened its New York office in 2016 and advised the Olayan Group on its $1.6 billion acquisition of 550 Madison Avenue Tenants at 580 Broadway include Epic Commercial Realty, Simon Wallace Design, Cast Iron Real Estate, Concierge New York, and shared office space provider Breather, which Industrious acquired last May While many people continue to work virtually — causing uncertainty for the office market — the percentage of employees nationwide who reported working from home in March fell to 10 percent from 13 percent in February according to Labor Department figures released Friday Soho will see an uptick in development in the coming years thanks to a rezoning approved in December by the City Council Officials estimate thousands of new apartments will be built there in the coming decades Demand for commercial space in Soho outpaced supply in the last quarter of 2021, when average asking rents there were $78.86 per square foot per year Retail foot traffic in the neighborhood had risen to pre-pandemic levels by the end of last year Broad-Prince Realty did not immediately return a request for comment 12 Dec 2007 By Mike Phillips Mike Phillips seeks to explore the robustness of this digital infrastructure and how prepared businesses are to meet the technological challenges facing the property sector.