Site used by Crossrail’s Liverpool Street station job since 2012

Five architecture practices are in the running to design Finsbury Circus gardens’ long-awaited makeover following work to build the new Crossrail line.

The City of London Corporation has shortlisted firms including Feilden Fowles Architects and Architecture 00 for the job which will also include reinstating a pavilion.

finsbury circus

The access shaft at Finsbury Circus

The remainder of the shortlist is made up of Alvisi Kirimoto Partners, Hall McKnight and Paul Archer Design collaborating with Studio Ben Allen.

The competition was aimed at smaller firms with architects wanting to bid required to have a turnover of between £550,000 and £1.5m.

The shortlisted firms will now progress to the ‘stage two’ design phase of the competition where they will provide their initial design concepts.

The authority had hoped to begin giving the prestigious 17th-century gardens a facelift two years ago but delays to the nearby Crossrail scheme being built by Laing O’Rourke at Liverpool Street forced it to put back its plans.

The gardens have been the location for a 42m deep shaft used by workers to access Crossrail tunnels since 2012.

The work required removing a bowling green and a grade II-listed drinking fountain which will be put back under the proposals.

The five shortlisted firms will also be given a £1,000 honorarium. A winner will be announced next month.