Whitechapel Station Environmental Statement

Non-technical Summary

Contents

Background to Crossrail 1 About this Document 1 Crossrail at Whitechapel 2 Existing Situation 2 The Scheme 3 Other Works at Whitechapel 7 Constructing Crossrail 8 Alternatives 9 Assessment of Environmental Impacts 10 Townscape and Built Heritage 10 Visual Amenity 10 Archaeology 11 Ecology 11 Water Resources 11 Traffic and Transport 12 Noise and Vibration 13 Air Quality 13 Contaminated Land 14 Community 14 Socio-economics 14 Cumulative Impacts 15 What Happens Next? 16

Conceptual visualisation of new Whitechapel Station

Background to Crossrail About this Document

Crossrail is a major railway development, connecting Maidenhead A new design has been developed for Whitechapel Station since the through central London to Shenfield and Abbey Wood. The railway publication of the Crossrail ES (2005). An Environmental Impact will also connect Heathrow Airport, the West End, central London, Assessment (EIA) has been completed for these design changes and including Whitechapel Station and Canary Wharf. an ES has been produced.

In order to gain approval to build and operate the new railway, EIA is a process used at an early stage in planning and design to The Crossrail Bill was submitted to Parliament together with predict the environmental impacts of a development. It can be used to an Environmental Statement (ES) in 2005 that assessed the find ways to reduce any adverse impacts, shape projects to fit into the environmental impacts of works required for the Crossrail project. The local environment and maximise environmental benefits which could Crossrail Bill received Royal Assent and became The Crossrail Act in be created. 2008, which gave powers to build the railway. This document presents a non-techincal summary of the The Crossrail ES (2005) comprised a main ES, Supplementary ESs environmental impacts, in non-technical language, of the main findings and Amendments of Provisions (which identified changes to the of the ES. More specifically, it: contents of the Crossrail Bill). • describes the principal works required for Whitechapel Station; During the passage of the Act, the formal standards that the • explains how these works will be constructed; construction process must stick to were established. These are the Crossrail Environmental Minimum Requirements including the • explains how the assessment has been carried out; Crossrail Construction Code, which are available on the website: • explains measures used to reduce impacts; and • presents significant impacts that have been identified. www.crossrail.co.uk

Crossrail Route Connections

Non-technical Summary of the Whitechapel Environmental Statement Page 1 Crossrail at Whitechapel

Existing Situation

Whitechapel is in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. The station is in an urban setting with a mix of housing, shops, schools, health and sports facilities. The existing station entrance and ticket hall is located on Whitechapel Road opposite the Royal London Hospital. The station provides access to both the underground and overground rail services.

The London Underground (LU) Hammersmith and City and District Lines (HCDL) are aligned east-west. There are residential properties to the north of the HCDL on Durward street and adjoining streets, and to the south along Whitechapel Road.

The London Overground (LO - formerly the East London Line) runs north-south in a cutting between the residences of Trinity Hall and Kempton Court. Swanlea School is located to the east of the LO cutting.

Existing station entrance

Aerial view of Whitechapel area Existing station entrance Page 2 Non-technical Summary of the Whitechapel Environmental Statement The Scheme

Whitechapel Station is one of several London stations which will be The Scheme comprises the following key elements: served by Crossrail, which will run in twin bored tunnels under central London. Trains from Whitechapel Station will run westwards to Liverpool • Construction of Whitechapel Station Concourses including Street Station or eastwards to either Stratford, or to Canary Wharf. retention of the existing entrance hall, but demolition of the structure to the rear; • Construction of Durward Street Shaft; • Works to HCDL Platforms including refurbishment of the Group Station Manager’s (GSM) building; and • Works to roads and bridges, including replacement of the Durward Street Bridge and demolition of Winthrop Street Bridge.

Permanent works at Whitechapel Crossrail at Whitechapel

Non-technical Summary of the Whitechapel Environmental Statement Page 3 Passengers will continue to enter the station from Whitechapel Road. The Station Concourses (upper and lower levels) will be suspended above the LO linking the Ticket Hall on Whitechapel Road to Durward Street Shaft, running between Kempton Court and Trinity Hall.

A new public walkway will be provided alongside the concourse, providing a safe pedestrian route that people will be able to use without purchasing a ticket. This walkway will improve accessibility for the area and enable people to move freely between Durward Street and Whitechapel Road.

The upper concourse will include new ticket barriers and provide simple, naturally lit access to the HCDL or LO platforms by stairs or lift. The lower concourse is then reached via lift and stairs, from where passengers can continue down to the Crossrail platforms. The LO platforms can also be reached from this lower concourse.

View of new ticket hall (Artist’s Impression)

Cross Section looking East

Page 4 Non-technical Summary of the Whitechapel Environmental Statement As the concourse passes between Trinity Hall and Kempton Court, it has been designed to be as low as possible in order to reduce the visual impact on these neighbouring properties. The design makes the most of natural light and is of high quality with many sustainable features such as a sedum roof and a green wall adjacent to Swanlea School.

A shaft will be constructed on Durward Street and will be located at the northern end of the concourse. This will contain ventilation and safety features. The shaft has been redesigned to reduce the size of the building near the street and to improve its relationship to Swanlea School.

View of Trinity Hall, GSM and Durward Street Bridge (Artist’s Impression)

View from Kempton Court looking West (Artist’s Impression) The HCDL platforms will receive new canopies, with a number of other adjustments to accommodate the Station Concourses. The Group Station Manager’s building will be refurbished.

The Scheme also requires alterations to local roads. Winthrop Street will be permanently stopped up and the bridge removed. Durward Street Bridge will be demolished and rebuilt to accommodate the station concourses and pedestrian access only. Durward Street looking West (Artist’s Impression)

Non-technical Summary of the Whitechapel Environmental Statement Page 5 Cross Section looking West

Cross Section looking South from Durward Street Bridge Page 6 Non-technical Summary of the Whitechapel Environmental Statement Other Works at Whitechapel

Other Crossrail works are planned for the Whitechapel area. These have been considered in the cumulative assessment and include:

• Swanlea School and Whitechapel Enabling Works (including • Cambridge Heath Shaft (excavation and construction of new works at Whitechapel Sports Centre, Cambridge Heath ventilation and emergency access shaft); worksite and the North East Storm Relief Sewer works); • The Crossrail Platforms and Sprayed Concrete Lining • Working Platform over the LO; construction works; • Plain Lining of the HCDL tracks and construction of a widened • Grout Shaft at the Cambridge Heath Worksite; and platform (to be carried out by LU); • Utility diversions in Durward Street. • The Crossrail Running Tunnels (Tunnel Boring to the west and east of the Scheme);

Other works at Whitechapel

Non-technical Summary of the Whitechapel Environmental Statement Page 7 Constructing the scheme Preparatory works started at Whitechapel during the summer of 2010. Construction Routes The main works are planned to commence in 2011. Two worksites are required for the construction of the Scheme, known Managing the Effects of Construction as Essex Wharf worksite and Durward Street worksite. Construction lorries will access these through defined routes including Vallance Road, The Crossrail Act 2008 gave the powers to build the railway. It also Durward Street and Cambridge Heath Road. Light goods vehicles will established the formal standards that the construction process must access the worksites via Trahorn Close. stick to. These are explained in Crossrail’s Environmental Minimum Requirements and the Construction Code, which are available on the Durward Street Bridge will be closed from mid 2014 to early 2017, during Crossrail website. which time lorries will also access the worksites along Darling Row, Merceron Street and Brady Street. Pedestrian Routes

The existing Station entrance will be closed and the temporary entrance in use from mid 2013 until 2017.

During this closure, the existing entrance on Whitechapel Road will be closed and a new temporary entrance and ticket hall will be created on Court Street. Signage and improvements to footways and steps are planned.

Pedestrian diversions will also be in place during the closure of Durward Street Bridge and signage installed for diversions.

Construction Arrangements Page 8 Non-technical Summary of the Whitechapel Environmental Statement Alternatives

The Scheme developed for Whitechapel Station is presented as an alternative to the scheme assessed in the Crossrail ES (2005). The reasons for the choice of the Scheme over its alternative are given below.

• Sustainability – The Scheme reduces the amount of excavated • Lower health & safety risk – The Scheme improves the buildability materials which would need to be removed from site as waste; and reduces the risk in construction of the station with a reduction in excavation and tunnelling; • Settlement risk – With a reduction in the amount of excavation, this also reduces the risk of settlement; • Enhanced community accessibility - The Scheme includes a public walkway which will provide improved access for the local community between Durward Street and Whitechapel Road; • Improved energy efficiency – The Scheme incorporates solar panels and natural lighting and ventilation, reducing the overall energy consumption of the station and creating a more • Financial savings – The Scheme design results in an overall cost sustainable development; saving; and,

• Prefabrication – The Scheme offers increased opportunities to • Enhanced transit experience and integration of the station use prefabricated units for construction, which can increase environment – The Scheme design allows for easier pedestrian the energy efficiency of the build, as well as reducing construction movement within the station, resulting in shorter distances programmes, reducing risk of environmental incidents and between interchanges and a more informed passenger nuisance caused to surrounding neighbourhoods; through improved signage. The HCDL, LO and Crossrail will be fully accessible from one ticket office. There is an overall reduction in the amount of time spent underground and an • Improving biodiversity – The Scheme incorporates some softer increase in time spent in naturally lit areas. features which will encourage biodiversity around the station on a small scale;

• Improved Water Management - The green sedum roof on the GSM building will reduce the volume of surface water discharged to sewer.

Non-technical Summary of the Whitechapel Environmental Statement Page 9 Assessment of Environmental Impacts

Townscape and Built Heritage Visual Amenity

Whitechapel is a vibrant urban area whose core on Whitechapel Road Impacts on visual amenity of the views of worksites and the operational is occupied by street stalls and shops. The varied architecture along station have been assessed. Residents, visitors, workers and Whitechapel Road area has been designated as Whitechapel Market pedestrians are included in the assessment. Conservation Area. There will be significant temporary impacts on the visual amenity of Two Grade II listed buildings (261-263 and 265-267 Whitechapel residents, pedestrians and workers overlooking the Scheme, due to Road) and a locally listed building are close to the Scheme. Land to construction equipment and traffic moving around the area. Hoardings the north of Durward Street Bridge comprises a partially degraded will be erected and good site practice undertaken to ensure disruption is landscape dominated by the LO cutting. kept to a minimum, as far as reasonably practicable.

The Scheme results in no direct impacts to the Listed Buildings or their Once constructed, the Station will hide the LO railway line and will add setting. The design is in-keeping with the urban form of the area and a sedum roof with continuous glazed rooflights as features of interest. no significant impacts to the townscape of Whitechapel will arise as a Views of Durward Street Shaft will be softened by landscaping. There will result of the Scheme. be no permanent significant impacts on visual amenity.

Whitechapel Road Panorama

Page 10 Non-technical Summary of the Whitechapel Environmental Statement Archaeology wells or licensed groundwater abstractions. The Essex Wharf historical well will be secured to prevent any impacts upon water resources. London Borough of Tower Hamlets has designated the area around Construction of the Scheme will use piling and excavation. No significant Whitechapel as an Area of Importance for Archaeology. There is evidence dewatering of the works is required. Construction will be managed of activity in the area from Roman times. through the Crossrail Construction Code, ensuring that there are no significant temporary impacts on groundwater and surface water. Crossrail will undertake archaeological investigations, where appropriate, so that any remains can be identified, recorded and removed before The area is mostly impermeable and drained to the surface water construction work starts. On this basis, there will be no significant impacts sewerage network. The Scheme will create a new roofed area over the existing track and platform area of the LO and drainage will follow the Ecology principles of the existing site arrangements. The green roof will reduce the volume of surface water discharged to sewer. The Scheme will not The existing habitat surrounding Whitechapel Station is typical of an impact upon flood risk to surrounding property. No permanent adverse inner city area and railway setting, with sparse vegetation along the impacts will affect surface water or groundwater resources. railway corridor itself and amenity-turf, trees and ornamental shrubbery in residential gardens and school grounds.

There are four non-statutory designated sites within 500m of the Scheme. No statutory or non-statutory designated sites would be affected. Desktop research identified a number of protected species records in the area, but only common frog and redwing were recorded within 500m of the Scheme. Surveys were undertaken for the Crossrail ES (2005) and updated during 2010. Reptiles, great crested newts, invertebrates, bats and breeding birds will not be affected.

General disturbance and habitat loss associated with construction is not significant and will be managed by implementation of the Crossrail Construction Code. No adverse permanent impacts are predicted. Design features such as the sedum roof of the new Station and Durward Street Shaft green wall facing onto Swanlea School will bring slight ecological benefits to the area in the long-term.

Water Resources

There are no surface water bodies, floodplains or surface water abstractions in the area around Whitechapel Station. There are no Source Protection Zones near the Station, nor any public water supply Green Wall Concept

Non-technical Summary of the Whitechapel Environmental Statement Page 11 Traffic and Transport

The Scheme is located to the north of the A11 Whitechapel Road, which Replacement parking areas which will be created during the construction is a busy east-west link. phase of the Scheme.

The existing Whitechapel Station entrance is located on Whitechapel The Scheme will improve connectivity within the station and improve Road. During works to the ticket hall, a temporary entrance and ticket hall access for mobility-impaired passengers. Rail passengers are forecast to will be installed in the Durward Street worksite. experience significant journey time benefits.

Construction works will require a number of local changes to parking, Prior to works to the existing ticket hall and station concourse, a access routes and Station use. Most impacts are minor or will be temporary entrance and ticket hall is to be installed on the western end mitigated, for example by the relocation of parking. However temporary of Durward Street at its junction with Court Street. This will be in use for residual impacts will occur at Essex Wharf worksite which will occupy 44 months. part of the Whitechapel Sports Centre staff car park; whilst this will be partially mitigated with an inset bay provided in front of the sports centre Passengers will descend to platform level via a new stairway. Appropriate for servicing and disabled drop off / pick-up, a significant temporary signage and lighting will be installed directing users from the existing impact will remain. station entrance, along Whitechapel Road and into Court Street.

Whitechapel Road looking east

Page 12 Non-technical Summary of the Whitechapel Environmental Statement Noise and Vibration Air Quality

The pre-existing dominant noise sources in the Whitechapel area are Whitechapel Station is located within an Air Quality Management Area road traffic noise from Whitechapel Road, rail traffic from the LO and (AQMA). The mitigation measures outlined in the Crossrail Construction other train movements into and out of Whitechapel Station. Other sources Code will be applied and there will be no significant impacts from include aircraft over-flights and helicopter arrivals and departures to/from construction dust, nitrogen dioxide or particulate matter concentrations the Royal London Hospital. Baseline noise measurements have been from construction traffic. obtained at various representative receptors nearby, including Kempton Court and Trinity Hall. There will be no permanent air quality impacts.

Temporary construction noise and vibration impacts will be controlled by measures set out in the Crossrail Construction Code including hoarding, limitations on working hours and siting of plant and equipment. Increases in construction traffic will lead to a significant noise impact to properties along Durward Street. The assessment has shown it likely that ninety five properties will quality for noise insulation. Fifteen properties are likely to be eligible for temporary rehousing and noise insulation during the noisiest works. Forty properties are likely to have a significant residual impact.

It is not anticipated that there will be any road traffic generated when the Scheme is operational, no permanent significant impacts will occur.

No significant noise impact will occur during the operation of fixed installations, including Durward Ventilation St Shaft

Receptors in the vicinity of the LO line, are predicted to experience a reduction in train noise as a result of the LO line being covered by the Crossrail Station Concourses.

Construction Noise Assessment

Non-technical Summary of the Whitechapel Environmental Statement Page 13 Contaminated Land Socio-economics

Historical uses of the area have included manure works, chemical works, Whilst the majority of the area around Whitechapel is of a residential a coal depot, a clothing factory, a burial ground, scrap yard/car breakers, or community nature, there are industrial and commercial premises, soda manufacturers, a brewery and a petrol station. These land uses including the Whitechapel Road market. have the potential to contaminate the soils or create hazardous ground gases that may be uncovered by the excavation for the Scheme. During construction, pedestrian diversions from the existing Station entrance to the temporary ticket hall may lead to a reduced pedestrian Soil and gas testing has shown there are elevated contaminants in the footfall. This is likely to have a significant adverse impact on commercial soils along Durward Street and within the Essex Wharf worksite. This will units around the Station entrance. not affect construction and measures will be in place to protect residents and workers. The solicitor’s office on the first and second floors above the existing Station entrance will need to be permanently relocated as the Station As the Scheme comprises a well ventilated design, there is a low entrance building will be utilised as part of the Scheme. This is not potential for gases to build up once the Station is operational. There will considered a significant impact as there is a substantial stock of be no significant impacts arising from contaminated land issues. alternative accommodation for relocation in the area.

Community

Community facilities surrounding the Station include the Whitechapel Road market, Whitechapel Sports Centre, Swanlea School, Royal London Hospital, the Idea Store, dental surgeries, a snooker club and Albion Health Centre.

During construction, there will be some disruption for the community due to increased noise levels, increased traffic, pedestrian diversions and the closure of the station entrance and Durward Street Bridge. There are predicted to be nine properties qualifying for temporary re-housing for three months or greater. This is considered to be a significant permanent impact.

Once the Station is completed, the new public walkway connecting Durward Street and Whitechapel Road will benefit the community in improving access to the Station and community facilities in the area. The Station will provide improved access to central London.

Conceptual visualisation of new Whitechapel Station

Page 14 Non-technical Summary of the Whitechapel Environmental Statement Cumulative Impacts Cumulative impacts may be broadly defined as impacts that result from the accumulation of a number of individual impacts on receptors.

They may result from various types of interaction, such as impacts of the same type at different locations; impacts that arise from the accumulation of different impacts at a specific location or impacts which are the result of the combination of activities associated with the Scheme together with other development projects.

The following cumulative impacts are predicted as a result of the Scheme:

• 1-4 and 5-10 Kempton Court (42 Dwellings) - Construction works could be a general disturbance for residents, in terms of

loss of parking, views of construction works and increased View of Lower Concourse looking towards Whitechapel Road (Artist’s Impression) noise levels.

• During construction, the Swanlea School will lose some outdoor space, plus will be exposed to adverse views of construction activities.

• The ‘High Street 2012’ works to Whitechapel Road will generally improve the appearance of the High Street area and will be undertaken as part of the 2012 Olympics. Works to the station entrance will contribute positively to this important project bringing about a cumulative benefit by preserving and enhancing the local character.

View of Lower Concourse with London Overground below (Artist’s Impression)

Non-technical Summary of the Whitechapel Environmental Statement Page 15 What Happens Next?

Crossrail is in the process of securing consent for the Scheme under schedule 7 of the Crossrail Act 2008, once all consents are secured the Scheme is expected to progress in line with the following key dates

All visualisations are illustrative only. Design, materials and finishes to be finalised.

View of new ticket hall (Artist’s Impression)

Page 16 Non-technical Summary of the Whitechapel Environmental Statement

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