Victoria Embankment Foreshore Supplement ary site information paper 1 We are considering making some changes to our plans in response to comments received during our second phase oconsultation, which ended on 10 February 2012. This inormation paper only describes our proposed amendments to the permanent design at Victoria Embankment Foreshore. Iyou require more detailed inormation on our proposals, please see our Victoria Embankment Foreshore site information paper(Autumn 2011) . For a copy othe site inormation paper and our Report on phase two consultation visit www.thamestunnelconsultation.co.uk or call 0800 0721 086.
We are proposing to use the River Thames oreshore, south o VictoriaEmbankment (A3211) or a construction site and to accommodatepermanent structures required to operate the main tunnel.
The site would be used to control the existing localcombined sewer over ow (CSO), known as the RegentStreet CSO, by connecting the northern Low Level SewerNo. 1 to the main tunnel. The location o the site isshown in Figure 1A.
What we are consulting on
Following eedback received at phase two consultation andongoing engagement with various technical consultees,we propose to:• revise the design o the permanent works• revise the construction site layout and extent, as a
result o the proposed revisions to the permanent worksshape and extent, and to address navigation risk
• amend our proposals or the Tattershall Castle.We now propose to move the vessel back closer to itsexisting position once construction works are complete,to maintain the views along Horse Guards Avenuetowards the river. We are also looking at an option toremove the Hispaniola and relocate the TattershallCastle in the Hispaniola’s place.
Site layout and construction phasesFigures 2A-2C show how the site might be laid out duringthe construction phases i we proceed with the proposedchanges. These phases are described in the original sitein ormation paper. The site layout has changed to re ectthe change in the position o the sha t and otherstructures. Barges used during the construction phase areshown moored parallel to the tidal stream rather than
perpendicular to it, and the worksite has been shaped toimprove navigation o river tra fc rom Embankment Pier.
The site layouts are indicative only. The contractormay arrange the site in a di erent way, depending onconstruction methods, provided that any environmentale ects are appropriately managed and that the mainconstruction activities are undertaken within the red lineshown in Figure 1A.
The key issues identifed during construction that are set outin Table 2.4 o our original paper are still relevant to themodifed site layout.
We are asking or your comments on a proposed new designor the permanent structure that will need to remain at VictoriaEmbankment Foreshore, when the construction works are complete.
Following eedback at phase two consultation and ongoingengagement with stakeholders we have progressed the
design or the permanent use and appearance o thestructures at Victoria Embankment Foreshore. The designo the permanent proposals will still ollow our scheme-wide design principles. The unctional elements, which arerequired or the operation o the main tunnel remain asthey were at phase two consultation and include:
• underground structures such as a CSO drop sha t,various chambers and an over ow weir which will
need ground level access covers• two main ventilation columns
(between 4m and 8m high)• a urther small diameter ventilation column
(also up to 6m high)• vehicle access or maintenance• electrical and control kiosk.
Figures 3A - 3G show the current site and provideillustrations o our design proposals.
Table 3A: This table sets out the site-speci ic issues that have in luenced our new permanent design proposals and how we haveaddressed them in our proposed new design.
Issue Our response
The e ect on thehistoric setting o the site,
including views along theRiver Thames to thePalace o Westminster
We have rearranged how our structures intercept the northern Low Level SewerNo.1 in order to reduce our overall ootprint in the river, and to reduce the apparentbulk o the structure in views towards the Palace o Westminster.
The proposed design has been split into two parts. Both structures would still bedesigned as new areas o public realm that will complement their historic settingin di erent ways.
1 A rectangular structure along the existing listed embankment wall, which willhouse the various chambers required to direct the ow rom the northern LowLevel Sewer No.1 into the CSO drop sha t. This will permanently a ect a longerlength o the listed embankment wall compared with our design presented atphase two consultation but will extend out less into the river. This will betterrespect the strong linear character o the river wall and reduce the apparent bulko the oreshore structure. It has been designed to re ect the existing 19th centuryelements o the wall, which extend into the river at intervals along its lengthincluding the RAF memorial/Whitehall Steps and Cleopatra’s Needle. Stone pierswould be used to mark where the embankment walls end.
2 The CSO drop sha t would orm a separate ‘island’ structure in the river. This‘island’ would be connected to the rectangular structure against the river wall by aconnection culvert buried beneath the river bed. Two access bridges would allowor public and maintenance access. The sur ace o the sha t would createa modern and unique island viewing plat orm, rom where views o the iconicstructures o the UNESCO world heritage site and Southbank can be enjoyed.The revised design will clearly distinguish the structure as a new eature, with amodern purpose and unction related to the river.
The visualisations show a concept or the design o the site. We will continue to workwith our stakeholders to develop the designs or the site, within the ootprint illustrated.
In line with the scheme-wide ventilation strategy, the ventilation columns are thinnerand shorter than those proposed at phase one consultation and would be located onthe rectangular embankment structure.
At phase two consultation we proposed to permanently relocate the Tattershall Castleto the south o the site. We have revised our proposals, and we now propose to movethe vessel south o our site during construction and then move her back north, as closeas possible to her existing location once the construction works are complete. Thisminimises the permanent e ects on views along Horse Guards Avenue towards theriver and means that we can reinstate the City Cruises mooring south o the site.
Although this is our pre erred option, we are also considering an alternative option toremove the Hispaniola and to relocate the Tattershall Castle in the Hispaniola’s place.This would reduce the visual clutter within the views rom Hunger ord Bridge towardsthe Westminster World Heritage Site but would directly a ect two businesses ratherthan one.
The relocation o the Tattershall Castle would be subject to urther consultation withthe owners, Westminster City Council and the Port o London Authority in order toobtain the necessary licences and consents, which are outside the remit o theDevelopment Consent Order.
The new temporary and permanent moorings including the access brows, bank seats,gangways and means o access will be designed to respect the existing listed riverwall, regardless o the option that is selected.
We are seeking your views on both o the options described above
E ects on river navigationand hydraulics
We are undertaking additional uvial modelling to understand the e ect that thestructure will have on river ows and how this di ers rom our proposals at phasetwo consultation.
The permanent structure extends no urther into the river than the existing TattershallCastle, to minimise any e ect on navigation. We are preparing a navigational riskassessment in consultation with the PLA, which will include consideration o vesselsnavigating to and rom Embankment Pier, as well as other river users.
E ect on central Londonactivities ( or example,tourism and transport)
The overall design would create a new accessible area o public space away romthe tra fc o Victoria Embankment, or people to enjoy the River Thames and viewstowards the Palace o Westminster.
Our proposals or the new permanent layout and design o the site reduce theextent o the permanent works in the River Thames compared to our proposals atphase two consultation, to minimise e ects on water ecology as ar as possible.
Ecological surveys o the River Thames are being undertaken to identi y possiblee ects and design measures would be incorporated, where required.
Construction o the tunnel would deliver river-wide improvements to local waterquality, which would result in positive e ects on river ecology, including habitatimprovements and reduced fsh kills.
Ongoing maintenance We will discuss the ongoing maintenance o the site with Westminster City Counciland Transport or London.
Targeted consultation: Victoria Embankment Foreshore
For urther in ormation or to comment on thesechanges visit our website:www.thamestunnelconsultation.co.uk
110-ED-PNC-00000-000775
June 2012
It is very important that you understandthis in ormation. I you need urtherin ormation in another language, Braille,large print or audio ormat, pleasecontact us on 0800 0721 086.
