Crossrail has submitted its plans for a new station at Hayes and Harlington to Hillingdon Council for approval. If the council agrees, the station should open in late 2017.

The new design involves a light and airy exterior made of glass and steel. It will have a new waiting room to serve platforms four and five, a new footbridge to ensure step-free access to the platform, and extensions to the platforms themselves.

It is hoped the plans will create a station that is more user-friendly for travellers, with additional help points, signs, lighting, electronic customer information boards and CCTV.

Matthew White, Crossrail’s surface director, said: “Our proposals are for a modern, prominent building that properly reflects the importance of the station to the area.”

He added that the modern design was intended to improve customers’ experiences of using the station, as well as being more visible, and thus easier to find.