Network Rail launches Platform4 to unlock brownfield land across the rail estate

Network Rail has launched Platform4, a new property development company created to unlock and regenerate brownfield land across the rail estate—an initiative the organisation says will better integrate transport, housing and economic development at scale.

image: Network Rail showing Platform4’s Newcastle Forth Goods Yard project

Formed from the merger of London & Continental Railways and Network Rail’s existing Property Development business, Platform4 is tasked with delivering 40,000 new homes and more than 10 million sq ft of commercial space over the next decade. Network Rail says this marks a step change in how strategically located rail land can be used to shape urban regeneration and support national infrastructure priorities.

By combining property expertise with operational rail knowledge, the new organisation is positioned to bridge the long-standing gap between transport planning and local development. Network Rail argues that this integrated approach—linking new homes and jobs directly to rail investment—will deliver stronger, more sustainable communities and reduce reliance on car travel.

“There is huge untapped potential in railway land,” said Robin Dobson, Chief Executive of Platform4. “Our railways once powered the first industrial revolution. Today they hold the key to the next. By unlocking and regenerating brownfield land within the rail estate, we will generate investment, create jobs and support the government’s housing agenda.”

Jeremy Westlake, Network Rail’s Chief Executive, said the launch “combines the power of rail and our significant property portfolio to shape communities and drive positive change,” adding that Platform4 will ensure the rail estate “continues to deliver value for both the economy and our communities.”

Platform4 begins with a nationwide development pipeline spanning 47 towns and cities and 22 London boroughs. The company will also oversee a portfolio of commercial real estate, complementing Network Rail’s established station retail estate, which generated more than £900m in sales last year.

The organisation’s remit goes beyond housing and commercial development: it includes delivering public spaces, unlocking sites around major stations, and transforming former yards and industrial land into new neighbourhoods. The company forecasts that its activities could generate £1bn per year in public value.

Four early projects—Newcastle Forth Goods Yards, Manchester Mayfield, Cambridge and Nottingham—are expected to deliver more than 2,700 homes while turning long-underused rail sites into “vibrant communities”.

Platform4 will work with Network Rail’s regions across England and Wales and will support selected projects in Scotland, with the aim of ensuring that regeneration aligns closely with passenger needs, local growth plans and long-term transport strategy.