Victoria Circle, SW1

Every year, 115 million people pass through the transport interchange at Victoria, making it one of London's busiest transport hubs. The problem is that this is often exactly how it feels – busy and overcrowded. Land Securities is at the heart of plans to change all that.

In October 2009, we received planning permission for our Victoria Circle. It was a big moment for Victoria. The result will be nearly 84,600 square metres of new office, retail and residential space, linked by clearer pedestrian routes and dramatically enhanced public spaces.

The plans encompass six new buildings in the area bordered by Victoria Street, Bressenden Place and Buckingham Palace Road. There will be over 17,220 square metres of retail space at ground and first-floor levels, along with cafés and restaurants lining the new pedestrian routes. Over 200 new apartments and affordable housing units will help address London's housing need. Meanwhile, a new four-storey public library will create a major new focal point for the community. All this will be energised by the arrival of a diverse range of businesses, continuing the success of nearby Cardinal Place|.

The result will create thousands of new jobs, increase the public space by 147%, and lead to a 20-30% reduction in carbon emissions, thanks to state-of-the-art building methods and the incorporation of new technologies.