Crossrail's £500 million green stop at the Wharf

HERE is the new image of the proposed £500 million Crossrail station, jutting out into the waters at Canary Wharf.

The station at North Dock will include a shopping centre with restaurants and cafés, and a roof transformed into a public park with water features.

It will also have walkways to Poplar in the north and the Isle of Dogs via Canary Wharf in the south. Planning permission is being sought for the design, created by Foster and Partners.

The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) has praised the "confident" plans for the shopping centre but said the green space could be improved. The Canary Wharf Group, which is financing the station, said it would address the issues highlighted by CABE.

"The scheme aims to be distinct from commercial buildings at Canary Wharf, but achieve the same high standards of design quality and environmental performance," said Howard Dawber, Canary Wharf Group strategic adviser.

Crossrail will run from Maidenhead and Heathrow in the west to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east via the West End, City and Docklands.

Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon has vowed the link will open in 2017. Ministers have floated the idea that it will be one of the infrastructure projects they will press ahead with to shore up the economy amid the downturn.