London's Deep Tube Railways: Visibly Invisible

The most commonly discussed topic regarding London's underground railways and land use is how the railway stimulated suburban development and the growth of London, scholars tend to ignore the historical relationship between London's underground railways and land-use in the densely developed areas of the central zone. This dissertation focuses on this little-discussed field, and argues that though the railway is out of sight it should not and must not be out of mind.

A developmental trend in the relationship between the tube and property from its earliest days through to the present day is analysed. Whilst the early tubes (those constructed between 1884 and 1907) minimised the interface with other property interests, the new lines, extensions and other improvements, post 1920 through to the present, increased the interface between the two. Whilst this dissertation predominantly focuses on the physical aspects of the presence of the railway, it also covers some of the legislative and legal changes that have enabled these to take place, commenting on aspects of property law, and considering the relevant legislation and parliamentary commission that affected the railways development.