The UK's busiest train station, with 98 million journeys every year, is getting a major revamp. London Liverpool Street, which has been the busiest station in the UK for three consecutive years since the launch of the Elizabeth Line, has faced its fair share of controversy regarding its redevelopment.

Plans were initially submitted for a staggering regeneration cost of £1.5 billion, to build an enormous 21-storey tower, partly rebuild a nearby Grade II-listed hotel and disrupt views of St Paul's Cathedral, which was overwhelmingly rejected. A second iteration would also require parts of listed buildings to be demolished, but now a third punt looks more hopeful.

Architects John McAslan & Partners (JMP) proposed a nine-storey alternative that will 'float' above the existing station, so that the listed parts of the building can remain intact.

Plans also include landscaped public paths, and nearly 700,000sqft of office space, and it has been scaled back to around £600million, according to architects who were behind the 2012 transformation of King's Cross Station in London.

Practice director John McAslan claimed the new development would cost "half the current £1.2billion ACME scheme, take up two-thirds of the area, and take half the time to be delivered," reports the Architects Journal.

Henrietta Billings, director of the charity SAVE Britain's Heritage, showed support for the design, stating: "This fresh and exciting vision is a valuable contribution to the debate about what's possible at this important site.

"It shows that there are alternative approaches to upgrading this celebrated public building in more sympathetic and imaginative ways that won't cause years of disruption to commuters," reports Time Out.

Mr McAslan said the firm will look to retain and protect the station's historic fabric, adding: "Our approach is phasable and will ensure Liverpool Street Station remains operational with minimal disruption during its construction period."

The City of London Corporation is expected to make a decision on Network Rail's application early next year.