Thames Tunnel Project

This webpage contains information regarding the Thames Tunnel project, the different consultation events, the Council’s responses and the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) Process. Please note that this webpage will be updated as the project progresses.

The proposed Thames Tunnel will capture the flows of storm sewage from 34 sewer overflow points along the River Thames. The tunnel will run approximately 32 kilometres (20 miles) through the heart of London, and up to 75 meters beneath the River Thames, broadly following the path of the river. In Autumn 2008, Thames Water began the process of consulting all the affected boroughs, and other pan-London stakeholders such as the Environment Agency and Greater London Authority. Inputs from this consultation were taken into account in the site assessment methodology. Communities were consulted in January 2011 (Phase One consultation) and are currently consulted on Phase Two consultation before further decisions are taken. The target date for the submission of planning application is the end of June 2012, the enabling works will commence in 2013 with completion of the project by 2020. 

The Council has produced a Statement on the Thames Tunnel.

Thames Tunnel Update: Phase 2 Consultation Phase 2 consultation on the Thames Tunnel started on Friday 4 November. The consultation documents can be found on the Thames Tunnel website. Consultation runs until 10 February. A hard copy of the documents can be also seen in the planning information office of the Town Hall. A series of exhibitions have taken place close to the proposed sites. The Council has produced a draft response which can be seen below, under the section "Responses to previous consultations on the Thames Tunnel Project".

Thames Tunnel: Statement on Cremorne Gardens

Thames Tunnel and the Royal Borough agree that, subject to further consideration and approval, the Thames Tunnel Works can be facilitated without using Cremorne Gardens. The Royal Borough and Thames Tunnel are currently having productive discussions regarding the detailed design of the scheme which would locate any Thames Tunnel works within the existing waste transfer station. These proposals will be presented at the Phase 2 consultation.

Shortlisted sites in the Royal Borough

• Cremorne Wharf Foreshore 

Please note that Cremorne Wharf is a safeguarded wharf and is also the Royal Borough’s only licensed waste management site. These uses cannot be lost permanently without ‘like for like’ replacement. This may lead to difficulties with the use of the Wharf for construction and access purposes. The Council will not agree to the use of Cremorne Gardens as a temporary access route to the proposed works on the Cremorne foreshore. The Gardens are an invaluable local asset and the Council will resist any attempt to use them in connection with the Thames Tunnel. On this basis another access route must be found. Discussions are taking place between Thames Water and the Royal Borough to identify a viable alternative access.

• Chelsea Embankment Foreshore

The Council has serious reservations about the likely negative impact of the proposed lane closure on the Embankment upon the Borough’s road network and the likely impact of the works to the Embankment foreshore upon the ecological and amenity value of Ranelagh Gardens and the Chelsea Embankment. Moreover, Royal Hospital is a Grade I Listed Building, the gardens to the Royal Hospital and Ranelagh Gardens are both listed, the embankment wall is Grade II listed and these works will impact on their setting, the character and appearance of the conservation areas and on views to and from the river – the Tunnel structures and associated works therefore need to be considered very carefully.

For frequently asked questions about the Thames Tunnel Consultation, please see the Thames Water website. The Council has submitted a formal response to the Thames Tunnel Consultation - Phase One which could be downloaded below but we would like to encourage our residents to respond to the consultation too.

Meetings

The Council are holding meetings with Thames Water to discuss the development of the Thames Tunnel Project. The minutes of the meetings can be downloaded below.

•  Cremorne Wharf meeting November 2010
•  Chelsea Embankment meeting November 2010
•  January 2011 meeting
•  Letter Response on shore works
•  March 2011 meeting
•  April 2011 meeting
•  June 2011 meeting
•  September 2011 meeting
•  November 2011 meeting 

Responses to previous consultations on the Thames Tunnel Project

•  Site Selection Proforma (September 2009)
•  Statement of Community Consultation (February 2010)
•  Statement of Community Consultation (June 2010)
•  Thames Tunnel Code of Construction Practice, Outline Contents (October 2010)
•  Thames Tunnel Consultation - Phase One (December 2010)
•  Response to Memorandum of Understanding (March 2011)
•  Response to EIA Scoping Report (April 2011)
•  Response to Flood Risk Scoping Report (May 2011)
•  Streamlining the Planning Process for NSIP: Wastewater Transfer and Storage, Section 14 Order (September 2011)
•  Response to phase two consultation (February 2012)
•  Response to Equality Impact Assessment Briefing Note (March 2012)
•  Response to Position Paper on Cumulative Effects (March 2012)

The IPC process

The Secretary of State announced in September 2010 that development consent for the project should be dealt with under the regime for nationally significant infrastructure projects established by the Planning Act 2008.

The IPC process involves the following stages:

• Pre-application: Thames Water will develop their proposals and will consult widely. The Council will be consulted on the statement of community consultation and participate in pre-application discussions. The Council will also begin the evaluation of the local impacts and start working in the Local Impact Report (LIR) to identify the social, environmental and economic impacts of the project and any potential mitigation and compensatory measures.
• Acceptance by the IPC: the IPC has 28 days to decide whether there has been an effective consultation and whether the application meets the required standards. The Council can make representations to the IPC regarding the adequacy of the consultation carried out. If the application is accepted, the IPC will invite the Council to submit the LIR.
• Pre-examination (two to three months): Commissioner(s) will be appointed to assess the issues and will hold preliminary meetings and set a timetable. The preliminary meetings will be procedural decisions on how the application is to be examined. The Commission will set out the deadline for the submission of the LIR.
• Examination: the IPC has six months to carry out the examination. The Council will submit the LIR and make representations.
• Decision: a decision on the proposal is issued within three months, with a statement of reasons.
• Post-decision: There is a six-week period for legal challenge.

Exceptional Hardship Policy

Thames Water have established an Exceptional Hardship Procedure (EHP) for those who can prove they urgently need to sell their property, but are unable to do because of the Thames Tunnel, as currently proposed, and that they are suffering exceptional hardship as a result. The information is available on Thames Water's website and consists of an application form, a guide to the application form and frequently asked questions. Hard copies are available at the local libraries. If you would like more copies of the information or have any questions, please contact Victoria Phillips at victoria.phillips@tidewaytunnels.co.uk  or 0203 147 7783.

Please note that this applies to all riparian boroughs along the Thames and its inclusion on our website does not necessarily indicate that such properties exist in the Royal Borough

If you have any questions regarding the content of this webpage please e-mail the Planning Policy Team at planningpolicy@rbkc.gov.uk.

Page last updated 18 April 2012