Coal Drops Yard

The transformation of two mid‑19th‑century coal drop sheds, part of the Victorian railway infrastructure in King’s Cross, presented significant conservation and engineering challenges. The historic brick and iron structures needed to be sensitively refurbished and adapted to house high-end retail units and public realm while preserving original materials—such as slate roofing sourced from the same Welsh quarry—and operating within a UNESCO-recognised urban context.

G&T was appointed to provide Cost Management, Employer’s Agent, and Life Cycle Costing services. Working alongside Heatherwick Studio and BAM, the team delivered a complex intervention that included restoring heritage fabrics and integrating a striking new steel-supported “kissing” roof, which connects the two buildings over a newly created central floor. Through rigorous cost control, procurement oversight, and phased delivery, we helped support the seamless union of historic and modern elements—retaining industrial character while enabling premium retail use.

Coal Drops Yard now spans approximately 9,300m² of retail and public space and has become a key destination in the King’s Cross redevelopment. The project won RIBA National and London Awards and the IStructE Structural Transformation Award for its bold reuse and innovative structural solutions. G&T’s commercial stewardship was essential to delivering this iconic site on time and on budget, contributing to the successful revitalisation of King’s Cross.