Why London needs the Thames Tunnel IEMA Conference 2011 Optimising Infrastructure within environmental limits Tuesday 15 November 2011

The ‘lost rivers’ of London

Bazalgette’s interceptor sewers

London Tideway Improvements Sir Joseph Bazalgette

London Tideway Improvements Sewer overflow point Sir Joseph Bazalgette

London Tideway Improvements Sewage Works Upgrades Sir Joseph Bazalgette Sewage Works Upgrades - Mogden

London Tideway Improvements Sewage Works Upgrades Lee Tunnel Sir Joseph Bazalgette Lee tunnel construction - Beckton

London Tideway Improvements Sewage Works Upgrades Lee Tunnel Proposed Thames Tunnel Sir Joseph Bazalgette Sewer overflow point

Putney Bridge CSO

A CSO in action

27 May 2011, Hammersmith Bridge

5 June 2011, Barnes

Why tidal flows are important

Approach to EIA Integration – EIA / Planning / Design teams co-located by geographic area (West/Central/East) Mitigation by design, facilitated by co-location and specific EIA and Design team workshops Consultation – Planning Act requirement to front load consultation

EIA and Reporting Stages Baseline Baseline Survey Reports (Autumn 2010) Scoping Position Papers (Dec 2010) Scoping Report (Mar 2011) Preliminary Environmental Information Preliminary Environmental Information Report (Autumn 2011) Environmental Statement 2012 Stakeholder Consultation

Environmental challenges London Scale of project (22 sites in 14 Local Authorities) Location of CSOs Working in the foreshore Key environmental challenges: –Traffic and transport –Noise and vibration –Air quality –Townscape and heritage

Transport We propose to: –use the river to transport 90% of excavated material from the tunnel at the main tunnel drive sites –use the river to bring in and take away the majority of bulk material used to fill the cofferdam at the foreshore sites in the River Thames –explore opportunities to use rail freight to move material to or from our sites –take into account the potential impact on the local road network.

Approach to EIA - reporting Preliminary Environmental Information report (PEIR) comprises 28 volumes: –Vol 1: Introduction –Vol 2: Proposed Development –Vol 3: Alternatives –Vol 4: Scoping opinions and technical engagement –Vol 5: Assessment Methodology –Vol 6: Project wide assessment –Vols 7 – 28: Site Assessment Volumes PEIR available on website as part of Phase 2 consultation

Sustainable development Challenge of balancing the long term benefits with the short term construction effects Reuse of excavated material – options appraisal developed in discussion with Environment Agency Commitment to use of river for transportation of excavated material Early development of Code of Construction practice in consultation with EHOs Sustainability Strategy being promoted and developed by team embedded in project office, looking at whole life cycle of the project

Reasons to act now Continued overflows, causing environmental damage Continued health risk to river users Continued adverse impact on attractiveness of river frontage Risk of heavy fines being imposed on the UK Doing nothing will mean: If the Thames Tunnel is built it will still be functioning in the 22 nd century