24/7 Freephone Community Helpline 08081 434 434

Thame Valley Viaduct Engagement Event

February 2020

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1 2 24/7 Freephone Community Helpline 08081 434 434 Introduction

High Speed Two (HS2) is the new high speed railway for Britain. Welcome to the HS2 and Eiffage Kier engagement event for the design of the Thame Valley Viaduct. This structure is known as a ‘key design element’, and in this booklet we will share our current designs with you to keep you informed of progress.

HS2 – Our part in the bigger picture Who is Eiffage Kier? HS2 is a new high speed railway that will form the Eiffage Kier is a Joint Venture between the two major backbone of Britain’s transport network. It will civil engineering and construction companies, Eiffage connect eight of Britain’s ten largest cities and their and Kier. regions. Faster, easier and more reliable travel will Eiffage is a French civil engineering company that put more opportunities within reach for millions of employs over 70,400 people worldwide, with large people for work, business and leisure. scale projects across the globe including Canada, By increasing rail capacity, HS2 will free up space South Africa, Japan, and across Europe. Kier, the on existing lines for more commuter, regional and second largest construction company in the UK, freight services. This will relieve overcrowding has 90 years of experience in a range of specialities and improve reliability for millions of people using including infrastructure and civil engineering, Britain’s railways. housebuilding and land development. Read more about HS2 at www.hs2.org.uk Both partners bring specialist expertise in the design, Eiffage Kier is proud to have been appointed by construction, operation, financing and maintenance HS2 Ltd to deliver an 80km section of the new high of railway networks, including the construction of one speed rail link between the Chiltern Tunnel and Long of Europe’s latest high speed rail projects. Itchington Wood, with a planned completion date of We are committed to improving lives, communities 2025. and the engineering and construction industry by Along with this booklet there is a questionnaire providing sustained employment opportunities and asking for your thoughts and opinions on what being a good neighbour, protecting the environment matters most to you about the design and and the places we work. Our inclusive culture ensures construction of the railway in your area. Please return that our collaborative and innovative solutions this questionnaire by Saturday 29 February 2020 via provide exceptional value for money. freepost to ‘Freepost Eiffage Kier JV’. If you have any questions, please call the HS2 helpdesk on 08081 434434 where someone will be happy to help.

3 Context

What are Key Design Elements? Where will the viaduct be? Key design elements are structures along the The Thame Valley Viaduct is located within the route that are recognised by HS2 to be important. Northern Vale. The viaduct crosses the low-lying This could be due to their size, their proximity to Thame Valley, approximately 350 metres to the stakeholders or their location within sensitive areas. south-west of the Rabans Lane Industrial area on the western periphery of Aylesbury. The viaduct The Thame Valley Viaduct is considered a key design is partially visible from Public Rights of Way to the element because it is close to a local residential area south-west. Other than that, the viaduct is obscured and the community interest around the River Thame by a combination of gentle folds in the landscape and corridor. existing hedgerows and trees.

The design for this structure has been developed with consideration for the technical and structural requirements as well as the impact on their surroundings. This has involved reviews with Aylesbury Vale District Council and feedback from the HS2 Independent Design Panel.

Artist’s Impression of the Thame Valley Viaduct landscape

The location of the Thame Valley Viaduct within the surrounding towns and villages. The viaduct is shown in red, the route of HS2 is shown in green and yellow and the Public Rights of Way are shown as green dots.

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Engagement and Initial Design Through our programme of local engagement, and meetings with residents, we understand some of the local concerns. We will use this understanding to take reasonable steps to address any issues you raise and continually look to lessen the impact of the project. It is our intention to inform, involve and respond to you during the design period. As a key design element, this structure is also subject to review by the independent HS2 Design Panel of architects, engineers and landscape architects. Their role is to act as a critical friend to ensure the designs meet the aspirations of the HS2 Design Vision. We continue to engage with the panel during the development of our designs.

Artist’s impression of the Thame Valley Viaduct from the side

A map showing the location of the viaduct across the River Thame and its floodplain

5 What is a viaduct? A viaduct is a type of bridge, made up of multiple spans and connecting two points of terrain. On this project they will carry the high speed railway and will cross valleys, rivers, roads and flood plains. During the construction of the first railway networks in the 19th Century, bricks were used by Victorian engineers for building viaducts as these were the materials readily available. These brick-arched viaducts were capable of carrying the Victorian trains and followed the landscape’s natural curves. Differences between gravity loads on Victorian and contemporary Modern high speed trains travel at around four viaducts times the speed of Victorian trains so they require a flatter, straighter track, passing over and under the natural landscape. Modern viaducts are required to cope with the large longitudinal forces that occur due to braking and traction of high speed trains; they require stiff and strong supports to transfer the braking load forces from the train, which can be as much as a 770 tonnes load, to the foundations. In keeping with HS2’s Design Principles, viaducts along the route must be designed sustainably, minimising maintenance and materials used, and be considerate to the area where they are being constructed while meeting the technical requirements of the railway. Impression of the Thame Valley Viaduct piers

Artist’s impression of the Thame Valley Viaduct from a raised side view, showing the piers and spans

6 24/7 Freephone Community Helpline 08081 434 434 Thame Valley Viaduct

Landscape and Context Landscape Design The Thame Valley Viaduct is located in the low With this in mind, our plan for the landscape design lying Northern Vale to the north-west of Aylesbury. is to reinforce the landscape features associated It travels across the River Thame within a broad, with the natural floodplain and to maximise the shallow floodplain, which cannot be accessed by the opportunities for habitat connectivity under the public. The floodplain is typically made up of grazing viaduct. This includes the establishment of a mixed farmland, indicated by ditches and gappy field wetland landscape comprising flood plain pasture, hedgerows with occasional trees. The course of the managed wetland habitat, grassland scattered River Thame is defined by scattered areas of wetland among areas of woodland, wetland vegetation of vegetation and broken tree lines. black poplar and willow, open pools and reed lined marshland. Beyond the floodplain the surface of the land begins to gently rise and fall with arable farmland being As the viaduct is very low in the landscape, there the dominant land use. The openness and limited will be low levels of natural light reaching under the variation in the geography of the area provides central part of the structure. We have proposed a a strong visual relationship with the higher, rural series of pools and swales and associated reed bed ground outside the Northern Vale to the west and to make the most of the space. Opportunities for settlement to the east. ecology features such as otter dens and bird nesting habitat are also being considered to make the most of the ecology diversity under the viaduct, while respecting the need for the structure to be regularly maintained in a safe manner.

View of the Thame Valley Viaduct in its setting

Although the location is not accessible, it is visible in mid-distance views from Public Rights of Way networks to the south-west of the structure, including several publicised regional trails such as the Thame Valley Walk and Midshires Way. In many of these views the River Thame is set within higher An isometric drawing of the viaduct ground to the north, with the tree-capped Whaddon Hill being a local landmark, and to the east by tree lines and structures at the Aylesbury urban edge.

7 Design Considerations The Thame Valley Viaduct has been conceived as a minimalist elevated causeway passing over the River Thame floodplain - minimising impact on farmland and the adjoining wetland meadow landscape.

Composition Approach The vertical alignment of the route provides For the structure design, we have taken care to notable advantages to the design of the viaduct. simplify the profile of the deck spans as much as The structure will be low slung, with the average possible while joining the deck and pier connection. underside level approximately two metres above the This breaks up the length of the viaduct into subtle ground. and identifiable individual spans. These resemble the individual arches on a traditional, brick-built Victorian The subtle rise and fall of the current geography in viaduct. the surrounding area will have a masking effect to the viaduct. Especially with distant views, where the main Our approach to the architectural design of the visible components will be the posts and overhead viaduct falls into two categories: the appearance of wires that provide electric power to the train. These the viaduct in elevation when it is viewed against the are known as overhead catenary systems. largely flat immediate geography and the impression made by the support piers when viewing the viaduct through breaks in the trees from a slanted view point such as from the Public Right of Way to the south- west.

View of the Thame Valley Viaduct from the ground, showing an example of an overhead catenary system

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Appearance Our goal has been to use the low position of the viaduct to minimise the visual impact. The main structure is below deck level with the piers tucked in away from the edge, keeping the overall height of the structure to a minimum so that it appears to ‘skim’ over the floodplain. With a total of 36 pairs of supports along the length of the viaduct, the appearance of the piers from slanted vantage points has been a focus of the design work to date. The combination of outwardly An artist’s impression of the Thame Valley Viaduct from the smooth and inwardly textured surfaces aims to side, showing the piers and the bearing shelf catch the sunlight and draw the eye, minimising the apparent bulk of the pier. The repetition of this form along the length of the viaduct provides a strong visual consistency between piers and the angled and curved faces of the deck connections above, supporting the impression that each bridge span is firmly located onto its supports.

Impression of the Thame Valley Viaduct viewed through trees in its setting

A side ground view, showing the wetland landscape

9 Construction

Sequence of our works The Thame Valley Viaduct has an overall length of 880 4. The piers will be constructed from pre-cast shells metres. Sequencing for the construction of the 36 that are manufactured off site, then assembled spans is based on the following: and filled on site. This method gives a high quality finish to the viaduct piers and reduces the 1. Initially, we will construct internal site access roads, impact on the environment and our on-site carbon haul roads and temporary platforms for cranes footprint. from Bicester Road and work south towards the River Thame. We will also install a temporary 5. The main structure will be constructed from bridge to cross the river channel. pre-cast concrete beams and a concrete deck, which will be formed on site. The 2. After that we will start reinforcing the north construction activities will be planned in detail with embankment. We do this early so that the deliveries coordinated to minimise the amount of embankment can become sturdy enough to construction traffic. support the works. 3. We will then carry out foundation works to the piers, working northwards from the River Thame. These works involve foundations made out of ‘piles’ which are large diameter bored holes formed in the ground and then filled with concrete. We will also divert the river course, which will eventually flow between two of the viaduct’s central piers. Once the river flow has been diverted, we will continue foundation works towards the south abutment.

An example of pre-cast concrete beam installation

Concrete deck

Pre-cast concrete beams Diaphragm, used to hold the frame together

Piers

Pilecap

Piles

A labelled 3D construction model of the viaduct

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We are committed to minimising the impact of our works on local communities. We have explored a number of options to lessen noise and traffic movements and speed up the construction process where possible. We are also committed to maintaining and enhancing the landscape by introducing plants and wildlife where we can boost the local ecology.

Sites and Offices Our main site offices will be located off the A41 at Eiffage Kier will work in accordance with the HS2 Bicester Road. There will be no on-site overnight Code of Construction Practice, which sets out the accommodation for construction staff. We have standards and control measures for the management developed a travel plan that includes a ‘park and ride’ of construction activities on the Project. system from the A41 site to and from our other sites We will register every site with the Considerate using the internal access road along the route, which Constructors Scheme to ensure the highest will significantly minimise the impact on local roads. standards on all our sites. This travel plan also ensures that deliveries will not Visit www.ccscheme.org.uk for more information. travel through Aylesbury, but rather travel from the M40 along the A41 and, smaller deliveries will be consolidated at a single location. For deliveries of material, we are working closely with east-west rail so we can use the railways to move the material into the area. These measures will reduce the traffic impact to local areas, as well as reducing our carbon footprint. We are working with Buckinghamshire Business First to develop opportunities for local businesses, particularly in facilities management. Local businesses can register their interest in becoming a supplier to Eiffage Kier through our website: www.eiffagekier.com/supply-chain Example of a site

Location map showing the route of the railway and our main site office in orange with the site circled, off the A41 (shown in green)

11 Environmental approach

Noise and vibration Traffic We are committed to protecting local communities Eiffage Kier is investigating all transport options and and wildlife from the noise produced by high speed working with stakeholders and the local highways trains through the design, construction and operation authorities to minimise construction flows and of the railway. produce local traffic management plans. Further We will use a noise reduction hierarchy: firstly, information will also be shared in due course. reducing noise generation at the source; secondly, reducing noise through the design, construction and maintenance of noise fence barriers Responsible procurement and/or landscape earthworks; lastly, the offer of Our Environment and Sustainability team will noise insulation during the construction stage. implement measures that avoid, prevent and reduce Measures currently in development include adverse environmental impacts of the project, screening, the use of low vibration equipment, the leaving a positive and lasting legacy within the areas use of broadband vehicle reversing warnings and where we work. a noise and vibration monitoring protocol. We are Everyone who works for and on behalf of Eiffage Kier currently reviewing the requirements for permanent will ensure that all works are as ‘carbon-friendly’ as noise barriers and mitigation earthworks. possible. This includes recording previous energy use We will model construction noise to understand the and efficiency, emissions to air, soil and water and impact on nearby properties and we will use this waste generation. We will also maximise materials information to limit the effects we have upon the efficiency, which includes recycled, reused or communities where we work. renewable materials. Eiffage Kier is embedding carbon reduction initiatives into the scheme design, considering our carbon Air Quality footprint and exploring innovative alternatives to our Eiffage Kier is currently developing an approachto air most carbon intensive materials. quality management that adheres to HS2’s air quality requirements. Measures to reduce the potential We are holding numerous designing-out waste impacts on air quality include conducting dusty workshops to ensure we achieve maximum efficiency works as far from residents as possible, employing in the raw materials we use. As part of our materials dust suppression, using the latest emission procurement exercises we are challenging our standard vehicles and non-road mobile machinery suppliers to deliver on responsibly sourced materials (e.g. generators), covering materials, constructing including timber, concrete and steel. haul roads to minimise dust, seeding completed earthworks as early as possible, using temporary enclosures for cutting activities and damping down work areas in dry weather. We will risk assess construction activities, following best practice guidance from the Institute of Air Quality Management, to determine the appropriate monitoring to be employed. Inspection and monitoring procedures will be determined in consultation with the local authority.

12 24/7 Freephone Community Helpline 08081 434 434 Next steps

Questionnaire and feedback Supply chain opportunities The responses from the questionnaire will be Eiffage Kier is keen to engage with supply chain analysed and shared with the team designing the partners who share our values and enthusiasm, viaduct who will consider how the design can reflect regardless of how big or small your organisation may the local feedback. be. We believe in fair and inclusive procurement in order to stimulate a more competitive market place. We will hold a further event to show you how we have listened to your comments and how this has For opportunities and information about how your business could become a supply chain partner of influenced the final design. Eiffage Kier, please visit our CompeteFor page: We would also welcome any overall feedback from www.competefor.com/EiffageKier you on the value of attending today. This will help inform continuous improvement for future events. All questions raised today will be recorded and Skills, Education and Employment responses will be fed back through the local Eiffage Kier offers three targeted training Commonplace website: programmes, sponsored by the CITB Construction https://hs2inbucksandoxfordshire.commonplace.is Skills Fund and delivered by Bucks College Group. These courses are completely free and will give trainees the qualifications to build a successful new Future events future in the world of civil engineering. As the project progresses we will be hosting more Training will be delivered across three targeted public engagement events to provide you with programmes aligned to HS2 construction works, general updates about the works in your area. including: Details will be provided on the HS2 website: • Entry into construction – inc. L1 Construction Skills, www.hs2.org.uk/events Manual Handling, Health & Safety, Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card • Plant operatives – Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS) card • Construction for Women – focus on IEMA Institute of Environment Management & Assessment and IOSH Institute of Occupational Safety & Health

Thank you for attending We hope you found today’s event to be useful and we look forward to your feedback.

13 Artist Impressions

Thame Valley Viaduct - raised view

View of the piers and underside Viaduct side view

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Thame Valley Viaduct - habititat opportunities beneath the viaduct

Planting will surround the viaduct Viaduct side view from a distance

15 Keeping you informed

We are committed to keeping you informed about work on HS2. This includes ensuring you know what to expect and when to expect it, as well as how we can help.

Residents’ Charter and Commissioner The Residents’ Charter is our promise to Contact us communicate as clearly as we possibly can with If you have any questions about this people who live along or near the HS2 route. document, please get in touch. www.gov.uk/government/publications/hs2- residents-charter We also have an independent Residents’ 24/7 freephone 08081 434 434 Commissioner whose job is to make sure we keep Minicom 08081 456 472 to the promises we make in the Charter and to keep it under constant review. Find reports at: Email [email protected] www.gov.uk/government/collections/hs2-ltd- residents-commissioner Write to You can contact the Commissioner at: High Speed Two (HS2) Limited [email protected] Two Snowhill Construction Commissioner Snow Hill Queensway Birmingham B4 6GA The Construction Commissioner’s role is to mediate and monitor the way in which HS2 Ltd Website www.hs2.org.uk manages and responds to construction complaints. You can contact the Construction Commissioner at: [email protected] To keep up to date with what is happening in your area, visit: Property and compensation https://hs2.commonplace.is/ You can find out all about HS2 and properties along the line of route by visiting: www.gov.uk/government/collections/hs2-property Find out if you’re eligible for compensation at: www.gov.uk/claim-compensation-if-affected-by-hs2

Holding us to account If you are unhappy for any reason you can make a complaint via the helpline. For more details on our complaints process, please visit our website: www.hs2.org.uk/how-to-complain/

Please contact us if you’d like a free copy of this document in large print, Braille, audio or easy read. You can also contact us for help and information in a different language. HS2 Ltd is committed to protecting personal information. If you wish to know more about how we use your personal information please see our Privacy Notice (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/high-speed-two-ltd-privacy-notice).

16 High Speed Two (HS2) Limited, registered in England and Wales. Registered office: Two Snowhill, Snow Hill Queensway, Birmingham B4 6GA. Company registration number: 06791686. VAT registration number: 181 4312 30.