The Corporation of London has approved plans by John Robertson Architects for a commercial and retail development to built above the new Crossrail Liverpool Street station western ticket hall.

The scheme, being developed with Aviva Investors, will include 9,000sq m of new retail and office space. It will replace a 1970s building and former headquarters of Amro Bank which have already been demolished to make way for the station.

Work on the scheme is expected to start in 2017 once the new station has been built. Crossrail land and property director Ian Lindsay said the scheme would be office led and was designed to help maintain the City’s reputation as a financial centre.