Transport bosses have waved through a major makeover of one of London’s most famous Tube stations — but angry locals say the plans will only pile more pressure on an area already buckling at the seams.

Transport for London has approved a sweeping, multi-million pound redevelopment for South Kensington Station, clearing the way for lifts, rebuilt platforms and a revamped concourse at the heart of the capital’s museum quarter.

TfL says the project will finally drag the Victorian-era station into the 21st century, delivering long-promised step-free access and modern facilities for millions of passengers.

But when The Citizen asked residents using the station what they thought, the verdict was swift — and savage.

“Anything that draws more visitors is very bad,” said Rita Charlton, 61, who lives nearby. “It’s already chaos at the weekends. This will just make it worse.”

The plans had been warmly welcomed by senior politicians, with council leaders hailing the move as a long-overdue breakthrough.

Royal Borough Tory leader Cllr. Elizabeth Campbell said: “Making South Kensington Station step-free has been a key priority of mine since I became Leader. I am delighted to say that it’s one step closer to becoming a reality.

“This will mean a revamped station concourse and step-free access to all lines. South Kensington is an internationally important station and this Council is creating something that matches that status.”

And Labour MP for Kensington and Bayswater Joe Powell also lined up behind the scheme, pointing to hard numbers. “South Kensington is London’s 13th-busiest station, with around 30 million passengers a year,” he said. “TfL estimates another 500,000 journeys are lost annually because it isn’t step-free.

“This isn’t just a local issue — upgrading the station benefits the whole country.”

Despite the political fanfare, residents told a different story.

In The Citizen’s (less-than scientific) poll of ten locals in the station concourse, not one backed the scheme.

“You won’t find anyone around here who thinks it’s a good idea,” said Chris Finnegan, 32, a City worker who lives in Thurloe Place. “The station is already overcrowded. We don’t want even more people funnelled through it.”

TfL insists the station’s historic character will be protected and that all work will follow strict planning rules.

But angry Marsden Hospital patient Margaret Huff, 52, added: “Oh what a shame. We should be preserving our old stations — not ripping them apart.”

At the heart of the project are new lifts from street to platform, refurbished tunnels, brighter lighting, clearer signage and upgraded safety systems. Engineers will also tackle infrastructure that dates back more than 150 years.

Above ground, TfL has also approved changes that could include new retail or commercial units — helping pay for the works, but fuelling fears of over-development.

No start date has been confirmed, but once contracts are signed passengers are warned to expect years of phased disruption, with the station kept open when possible.

For TfL, the message is clear: South Kensington Station will get its makeover — whether locals like it or not.

And for the millions who battle the stairs every year, however, it can’t come soon enough.