Page 9 Agenda Item 6

Gravesham Borough Council

Report to: Cabinet

Date: 17 November 2008

Reporting officer: Director (Business)

Subject:

Purpose and summary of report: To respond to proposed alterations to the safeguarding applied to the North Kent line for a possible extension of Crossrail east of Abbey Wood and an update on the project overall Recommendations: The Director (Business), in consultation with the Leader of the Council, be authorised to respond to the consultation: (i) informing the Department of Transport that the it supports the principal of the extension of Crossrail east of Abbey Wood and welcomes the choice of as the outer terminus, and seeks an early commitment to its delivery and commits to work with Cross London Rail Links Ltd, and Department for Transport and other relevant parties to ensure that all rail proposals for the North Kent Line are integrated together; (ii) reiterates to Cross London Rail Links the detailed concerns set out in section 4; (iii) initiates a discussion with Department for Transport and the Department for Communities and Local Government the issue that there are schemes at and Gravesend Stations, and at Denton, which may be need to be shown on the Local Development Framework Proposals map, and will therefore theoretically conflict with safeguarding, and to seek a way forward.

1. Introduction

1.1 In February 2005 the Secretary of State for Transport issued a Safeguarding Direction covering the North Kent railway line through Gravesham as far as and including Hoo Junction for a possible extension of Crossrail. There has been an earlier consultation in 2004 on safeguarding when it was proposed that Crossrail came out to Ebbsfleet, this was then cut back to Abbey Wood. The safeguarding was to preserve the option of an eastwards extension in the future. There was a further consultation later in 2005 on amending this in the light of further technical work; however this was never progressed further as the Crossrail Bill had entered Parliament. The Secretary of State is now proposing a fresh set of amendments to the safeguarding and is seeking a response by 19 December 2008. Page 10

1.2 The consultation is not just about the proposed changes but views are sought on:

• Whether land in your Borough should be safeguarded now in order to facilitate a potential route for Crossrail between Abbey Wood and Hoo Junction in the future;

• Whether the Limit of Land Subject to Consultation, indicated in the draft safeguarding plan, is appropriate for your Borough.

1.3 The Borough Council in the past has consistently supported the concept of extending Crossrail east of Abbey Wood, but has raised various specific concerns about the proposals that lay behind the safeguarding limits. This consultation provides an opportunity to review both the overall stance and the detail. It should be emphasised that currently there is no specific proposal for, or Government commitment to, extending Crossrail to Gravesham. The major cost of the extension would be 4 tracking between and .

1.4 The report explains the current position and how it relates to improvements to the North Kent Line that are currently under discussion with Network Rail and others.

2. Background

2.1 The concept of connecting the east and west sides of London by a rail tunnel has been around for a considerable time. The aim is to link from the out of Liverpool Street to a route or routes on the west side of London (commuter flows are lower in the west so balancing demand is not simple). Such a link would relieve the Circle and Central lines, produce greater efficient use of rolling stock and release platform capacity for other services. Thameslink has already illustrated the success of this approach, though in that case using an existing alignment, and is now in the process of having a major upgrade.

2.2 A Hybrid Bill was deposited in February 2005 which provided for a tunnel between Paddington and Stratford, with a branch from Whitechapel to Abbey Wood via Canary Wharf. Services would run from Maidenhead and Heathrow through to Shenfield and Abbey Wood. The Act gained Royal Assent on 22 July 2008. It is intended to tunnelling should start in 2010, and that the scheme should open in 2017 at a cost of £16 bn.

2.3 As well as safeguarding the core route, two other safeguarding directions were issued for extensions from Maidenhead to Reading in the west and from Abbey Wood to Hoo Junction in the east. The intention is for any extensions to be authorised with by Transport & Works Act Orders, not via a Parliamentary Bill. Crossrail is a joint venture between Transport for London and the Department of Transport, and has just been appointed the nominated undertaker for the railway.

2.4 The function of safeguarding is to ensure that people are aware of a possible major scheme and to ensure nothing occurs to prejudice the delivery of the scheme in planning terms. The safeguarded area includes land that may be required to construct any scheme, as well as the land it will actually sit on long term. Safeguarding means that:

• It shows on land searches for any property within the zone or within 100m of it (200m of the centre line);

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• Borough Council will have to show it on the LDF proposals map, and not include any proposals that conflict with it;

• Any planning applications which may affect the safeguarding have to be referred to Crossrail who (via DfT) may issue a direction of refusal or insist on conditions being imposed.

2.5 In simple terms the extension of Crossrail involves safeguarding all Network Rail land on which the North Kent Line (NKL) sits. This is because Crossrail is not Network Rail, and therefore will need powers to alter the existing railway line. This in most places means that additional (or replacement) trains may run on an existing line, unlike with (CTRL) which was creating a brand new route. Only in a few places does the safeguarding make provision for significant additional physical works.

2.6 Originally the objective was to reach Ebbsfleet, being defined as a new station locating in the sidings area to the south of Northfleet Station, or alternatively Gravesend. Crossrail has now decided that its objective is Gravesend, and therefore at Northfleet it will use the existing station. The safeguarding to Hoo Junction was always so the trains might be stabled there overnight (not a depot), not that passenger services went that far.

2.7 The principal works required are widening the NKL to 4 tracks between Crayford Creek junction (Slade Green) and Dartford, extending platforms and turn back facilities. At Northfleet provision was made to allow for a new ‘Ebbsfleet’ station on the sidings. Most of this area remains, along with the station forecourt and adjoining land has been added, plus a works access from Thames Way. There is land for a possible additional retaining wall at Springhead Junction. At Denton, there provision is made for loops and a turnback siding, and at Hoo Junction a considerable area south of the existing sidings has been deleted but space remains for up to 8 sidings. Additional land has been included in the V formed by the Branch.

2.8 The safeguarding assumes the railway as it now is, but it there are proposals to change it.

3. North Kent Line

3.1 Network Rail has produced the South London Route Utilisation Strategy (March 2008) which is focussed on lines in London but comes out to Gillingham on the NKL. It is working on a North Kent RUS, a draft of which is expected in the Spring 2009 that may also have implications for this area. In addition there is National Stations Improvement (NSIP) programme and Department for Transport funds for making stations fully accessible. There are potential funds of up to £5m from the Community Infrastructure Fund (DfT/CLG) for Northfleet Station. CLG funds of £8m have been provisionally agreed towards the Transport Quarter proposals, of which Gravesend Station is a key part.

3.2 Precise schemes are still being worked on but the outputs currently expected are:

• 12 car platforms at Northfleet, Gravesend and Higham by 2012;

• Reconfigured track layout at Gravesend station for the longer platforms;

• Possible freight loop provision on the Isle of Grain Branch;

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• Significant station improvements, including accessibility, at Gravesend and Northfleet stations, with a possible link to Ebbsfleet International Station.

3.3 As part of the overall approach to transport provision in Kent Thameside there has been an aspiration for more passenger services. From December 2009 Gravesend will benefit from 6 trains per hour (tph) to London, two to St Pancras, 4 tph to Charing Cross (two semi fast and two slow). There is capacity for through running additional trains, the problem is terminating trains. At Gravesend the terminating trains are allowed 12 minutes turnback thereby blocking platform 2 for 24 minutes in each hour. Hence any additional terminating services would need a turnback provision east of Gravesend. The assumed Crossrail service pattern is 4 tph, two of which would replace the existing stopping service. This would give direct services though central London (Liverpool Street, Farringdon, Tottenham Court Road and Bond Street), and via a same platform interchange to Heathrow.

4. Commentary

4.1 The Borough Council has always supported the principle of Crossrail coming out to Gravesend, and the provision of through services to the western corridor. The proposal also brings additional trains to the NKL line. The physical proposals could be used to enhance services on the NKL regardless of the London destination. The issue raised is to do with the “when and if”, and the potential negative impact of the proposals on regeneration in the Borough arising from the safeguarding. There is a case to be made with the other local authorities (Kent, Dartford and LB of Bexley) and regeneration agencies to the Government for the proposed extension to become a commitment.

4.2 Major proposals, including platform lengthening and station enhancement, are already under consideration and it is important that these are not held up, and are compatible with Crossrail. From discussions with Crossrail it would appear that the existing proposals are compatible with their requirements. These are likely to mean that the Borough Council will wish to show proposals that intrude into the safeguarding on the LDF map. This raises an issue with Department for Transport on how this is handled at Plan level, not with Crossrail as such.

4.3 At Denton turnback facilities would be provided and possibly a freight loop. The concern here as been over the possible impact on the Thames & Canal (where funds are being sought from CLG for restoration) and a potential extension of Dering Way north over the railway. The Canal would not be affected, though there would be a small intrusion into the SSSI to the south, but this could be compensated for. There are detailed issues to do with the stabling sidings at Hoo Junction, interaction with rail freight operations and also highway access. Any support for the safeguarding is therefore subject to the caveat that this does not preclude any comments the Borough Council might wish to make on any actual proposal.

5. Risks and Section 17

5.1 The risks are that Crossrail safeguarding may prejudice the delivery of regeneration schemes in Gravesham, to be set against the benefits of enhanced accessibility to central and west London. With suitable design there are no Community Safety implications.

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Background Documents

Crossrail Safeguarding – Letter and plans from Department of Transport – September 2008

South London Route Utilisation Strategy – Network Rail – March 2008

All background documents are available from the Planning & Regeneration Services Department, Civic Centre.

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