Albert Embankment Foreshore

We need a work site to connect the two local combined sewer overflows (CSOs), known as Clapham Storm Relief and Brixton Storm Relief, to the main tunnel of the proposed Thames Tunnel project. We are currently proposing to use the foreshore near Vauxhall Bridge for this construction work and to accommodate the permanent structures required to operate the tunnel.
At present, the combined sewer overflows along the River Thames discharge untreated sewage directly into the river. This occurs because Londons mainly Victorian sewerage system, which was designed to transport both wastewater (sewage) and storm water (rainfall), is at or near capacity. Some CSOs discharge untreated sewage into the River Thames on average more than once a week and after only 2mm of rainfall. This situation is likely to become worse in the future, due to population growth and increased urbanisation. The discharge of untreated sewage into the River Thames is harmful to the environment. It reduces river water quality, harms the aquatic life, causes unsightly litter and increases the risks to health for users of the River Thames. Starting in west London and broadly following the path of the River Thames through the centre of the capital, the Thames Tunnel would transfer the flows from the most polluting CSOs to Beckton Sewage Treatment Works in the east of the city. The need for construction sites We need a significant number of sites to construct the Thames Tunnel project. Large shaft sites are required at certain points along the route to allow the construction of the main tunnel. Smaller CSO sites are also required near each of the most polluting CSOs to connect them to the main tunnel. We have carried out a thorough site selection process to identify suitable sites for the construction of the main tunnel and connection of the CSOs. For more information see our project information paper Construction Sites. This has enabled us to identify our preferred sites along the route required for the construction and operation of the main tunnel and the connection of each of the CSOs.

Albert Embankment Foreshore

Thames Tunnel

Ordnance Survey Licence number 100019345. Crown Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.

Albert Embankment showing preferred and shortlisted sites

How we chose the preferred site We shortlisted four possible work sites. Three are in the foreshore, close to where the CSOs discharge, near Vauxhall Bridge. The fourth is an area of open space comprising communal gardens and a car park serving a block of flats on Claylands Road. We assessed the suitability of each site by taking into account engineering, planning, environment, property and community considerations. From this process we have identified our preferred location, in the foreshore of the River Thames (see map above).

Site 1 Foreshore, adjacent to MI6/SIS Building and Vauxhall Bridge

Shortlisted sites:

There is no road access to this site. Temporary access could be created but a permanent access would not be available for operational use. This location is also quite prominent, immediately downstream of Vauxhall Bridge. The location would also be likely to have a greater impact on navigation and the flow of the river than the preferred site. Therefore, this site was not selected. A CSO interception chamber will still be required at this location.
Site 2 Foreshore, adjacent to St Georges Wharf and Vauxhall Bridge

This site is located immediately in front of a large block of residential flats. Its use would therefore be likely to cause disruption to residents. There is also no existing road access to this site. Although a temporary access could be constructed along the foreshore, this could create additional impacts upon the river and there would still be no permanent access for operational use. For these reasons, this site was not selected. A CSO interception chamber will still be required at this location.

Ordnance Survey Licence number 100019345. Crown Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.

Preferred site at Albert Embankment showing use during construction

Site 3 Open space, Claylands Road

This site can only be used to intercept one of the two CSOs in this area, and so if used we would still require a second site to intercept the Clapham Storm Relief CSO. This site is close to residential flats which could experience disruption due to the proposed works. Using this work site would mean the temporary loss of an area of public open space and residents parking. The actual construction works would require the partial closure of Kennington Oval (the A202) which could create traffic disruption in the area. The connection tunnel that would be required to connect the CSO to the main tunnel would also be longer than for any of the other shortlisted sites.

Albert Embankment Foreshore

Our preferred site:

We have identified this site, to the east of Vauxhall Bridge, as our preferred location for the drop shaft and main works site because, on balance, the potential impacts of its use appear likely to be less than the other possible options identified during the site selection process. While the drop shaft itself is in close proximity to office buildings, it is further away from large residential developments than two of the other possible options considered. Temporary and permanent access to the site is also better than for the other possible foreshore sites considered. In addition, use of this site is likely to have less of an impact on the flow of the river than those sites nearer to Vauxhall Bridge. There would be impacts on the Albert Embankment Conservation Area, and possibly upon archaeological features in the foreshore, but we would seek to mitigate these. Although there would be some disruption to the Thames Path at this location during construction, measures can be taken to keep this to a minimum.

Ordnance Survey Licence number 100019345. Crown Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.

Albert Embankment illustrative visualisation of completed project

Use of the preferred site during construction We would need to use the site as a construction site for approximately three years. It would then be vacated as much as possible but a smaller area kept secure for subsequent equipment installation. The plan on the previous page shows how we propose to use the site to connect the CSOs to the tunnel. It also shows the amount of space we think we would need to carry out the construction works but as the design of the Thames Tunnel develops further this could change. As the site would be located in the foreshore, we would need to construct a temporary cofferdam around it to protect the works from the river. Specific measures may be necessary to reduce the environmental effects of construction and we would welcome your views on the issues we should consider when developing our proposals. We will be presenting our more detailed proposals in our second round of consultation before the submission of planning applications.

We propose that construction traffic would enter and leave the site using a temporary access road along the foreshore from Albert Embankment Gardens. Permanent use of the site We are likely to require some permanent aboveground structures on this site after the construction work has finished. In order to accommodate these structures, we propose to extend the existing river wall to create a new area of hard-standing (see graphic above for an illustrative visualisation of one way this could be achieved). The structures to be located in this new riverside area would include a ventilation column (approximately 10m high and 1m diameter), along with a rectangular kiosk (approximately 1.5m high, 1m wide and 3.5m long) housing electrical and control equipment. We would leave the area around these structures as hard-standing to allow vehicle and pedestrian access to this new area of river frontage. As can be seen above, we could soften this with appropriate planting. Above is an example of how the site could look after construction has finished. As part of our public consultation we would like to know your views on the permanent look and use of the site.

For further project information see our website: www.thamestunnelconsultation.co.uk or call us on 0845 366 2950