Committee: Date: Classification: Report No: Agenda Item: Cabinet 6 September Unrestricted 2006 Report of: Title: Corporate Director Development & Docklands Light Railway (Capacity Enhancement) Renewal Phase 2, TWA Order Application Originating officer(s) Wards Affected: Joanna Wu, Strategic Transport Planner Blackwall and Cubitt Town, Millwall, Limehouse, Bromley-by-Bow, Mile End East 1. SUMMARY 1.1 The Draft Docklands Light Railway (DLR) (capacity enhancement and 2012 Games preparation) Transport & Works Act (TWA) Order 2006 was submitted to the Secretary of State for Transport by the Docklands Light Railways Limited in August 2006 for consideration. 1.2 The TWA Order, if confirmed, will allow the DLR to extend the length of the station platforms between Poplar and Beckton (“East Route”); and Poplar and Stratford (“North Route”) to accommodate 3-car trains on this part of the DLR network. 1.3 The Draft DLR (Capacity Enhancement and 2012 Games Preparation) Order was published on 31st July, 2006 and submitted to the Secretary of State for Transport on 2nd August 2006. The strict deadline for receipt of objections to the proposed Order expires on 13th September 2006. 1.4 The submission of this TWA Order follows the previous DLR 3-car Capacity Enhancement (Phase 1) TWA Order, which was submitted in June 2004 for the enhancement works on the Bank/Tower Gateway to Lewisham DLR branch. Objections from Tower Hamlets were made in relation to the adverse environmental impacts upon local amenity during construction and operation. Subsequent negotiation between the Council and the DLR secured significant improvements to the scheme and additional controls for the Council. This allowed us to withdraw our objections. A Public Inquiry was held in February and the TWA Order was approved in October 2005. It is envisaged that the construction of Phase 1 will start in early 2007 with 3-car trains operating by autumn 2009 on that section of the railway. 1.5 This report sets out the background of the proposed DLR upgrade scheme and summarises the necessary infrastructure works and anticipated impacts within this Borough. It also recommends a formal position for adoption by the Council which will become the Council’s response to the DLR’s TWA Order application to the Secretary of State for Transport. 1 2. RECOMMENDATIONS That cabinet is recommended to:- 2.1 Endorse the actions taken to date by the Corporate Directors of Development & Renewal and Environment & Culture, as set out in paragraphs 6.0 to 6.4 of this report, and confirm the basis of the LBTH Objection Letter, regarding the DLR (Capacity Enhancement and 2012 Games Preparation) Order Application, attached at Appendix “A” to this report; 2.2 Authorise the Director of Development & Renewal to continue negotiations and deal with any issues that may arise with the DLR, in respect of the DLR 3 Car Enhancement Project, with a view to withdrawing the LBTH Objection Letter, referred to in the 2.1 above, in the event of an outcome which the Corporate Director of Development & Renewal considers to be acceptable following such negotiations; 2.3 In the event of an acceptable outcome to the negotiations between LBTH and the DLR, referred to in 2.2 above, authorise the Corporate Director of Development & Renewal (in consultation with the Lead Member Housing and Development) to either withdraw the LBTH Objection letter, attached at Appendix “A” to this report, in full or in part; and 2.4 In the event of an unsuccessful outcome to the negotiations, referred to in 2.2 above, and subject to legal advice, authorise the representation of the Council at any Public Inquiry in respect of the DLR (Capacity Enhancement and 2012 Games preparation) Order. 2.5 Agree that Cabinet is satisfied that this matter is urgent, as defined in The Constitution Part 4 “Rules of Procedure”, Section 4.5 “Overview and Scrutiny Rules of Procedure” Paragraph 17 “Call in and Urgency” sub paragraph 17.1, as any delay to implementation of all the resolutions above would seriously prejudice the Authority’s and the Public’s interest; and therefore this matter should not be subject to “Call in”. ______________________________________________________________________ Local Government Act, 2000 (Section 97) List of “Background Papers” used in the preparation of this report Brief description of “back ground papers” Name and telephone number of holder and address where open to inspection. DLR (Capacity Enhancement and 2012 Tower Hamlets Town Hall, Mulberry Games Preparation) Order Place, 5 Clove Crescent, London E14 2BG – Joanna Wu (tel: 020 7364 2542) 2 3. BACKGROUND 3.1 The Dockland Light Railways (DLR) currently carries 55 million passengers a year. With the new developments in Docklands and the preparation of 2012 Olympic and Para- Olympic Games, it is envisaged that the DLR patronage will rise to 80 million by 2009. 3.2 The upgrade of the routes between Bank/Tower Gateway to Lewisham for 3-car operation was approved by the Department for Transport (DfT) in 2005 and the construction will be commenced in early 2007 and by autumn 2009, the 3-car trains will be operating in this section. The Bank/Tower Gateway to Lewisham capacity enhancement works are known as Phase 1. The Council originally objected to this TWA Order. However, the Council was able to withdraw its objections before the Public Inquiry following successful negotiations with the DLR to minimise any potential environmental impacts. 3.3 This report focuses on the proposed 3-car DLR Capacity Enhancement works in Phase 2. It includes all DLR stations between the services from Poplar to Stratford and Poplar to Beckton. 3.4 If approved, this DLR (Capacity Enhancement) TWA Order (Phase 2) will cover the remaining parts of the network and will allow longer trains to be operated between Poplar and Stratford (north-route), and between Poplar and Beckton (east-route). These proposed upgrade works will enable the entire DLR network to operate using 3-car trains, thereby, increasing passenger capacity by 50%. 3.5 These Capacity Enhancement Works will also help the DLR to: • maintain frequent and reliable services; • increase passenger capacity; • provide better levels of passenger comfort; • maintain passenger safety at stations; • enable sustainable growth; • accelerate regeneration in the surrounding area; and • meet the passenger demand anticipated during the 2012 Olympic Games and provide a lasting legacy for the future. 3.6 The Council has recognised, in principle, the need for the increase in capacity to support future growth, including the 2012 Olympic Games, and to overcome current congestion on DLR trains. However, there is concern about potential disruption (noise, vibration, dust, light intrusion and traffic diversions) during construction and about the longer-term impact of noise levels from running longer trains. 3.7 Members should be aware that this recently deposited Phase 2 TWA replicates almost entirely the original Phase 1 Order and does not reflect the improvements secured by the Council over many months of negotiation with the DLR and ultimately formally embodied in a legal agreement which allowed the Council to withdraw its objections. This has proved somewhat frustrating and may necessitate further negotiations which could perhaps have been avoided. 3.8 Details of the station works and Delta Junction improvements are summarised below. 3 Table 1: Summary Table of LBTH Station Works Station Extension Access Changes Canopy Track Direction Changes Changes East Route East East New stairs added for the Canopies to be India extended platform extended to 3 car -- length Blackwall East -- As above -- North Route All Saints South Northbound platform stairs As above Crossover to be replaced with wider to be stairs and new walkway; relocated southbound platform to have a new emergency escape ramp off the south end of the platform Devons South New wider stairs to be As above Road installed replacing existing on both sides, new walkway -- to be constructed on the northbound platform Bow South Northbound platform stairs As above Crossover Church to be replaced with new to be wider stairs; southbound relocated platform to have new station access and walkway from Rainhill Way Delta A new viaduct structure will be constructed on the east side of the existing Junction viaduct, as shown below. Figure 1: Delta Junction Improvement 4 4. THE TWA ORDER APPLICATION AND CONSULTATION PROCESS 4.1 On 27 June 2006 the Chief Executive received a Rule 5 notice (TWA Applications & Objections Procedures England & Wales Rules 2000) from the Docklands Light Railway of their intention to make an application within 28 days for an Order under the Transport and Works Act 1992 for the construction of the proposed upgrade of the line between Poplar and Beckton Stations (“East Route”) and between Poplar and Stratford Stations (“North Route”). 4.2 The draft Order (and supporting documents) was deposited by the DLR on 2 August 2006 and the Council had a period of 42 days (six weeks) in which to respond. The closing date of the consultation period is 13 September 2006 and the Corporate Director Development & Renewal will exercise her delegated authority to make an objection to protect the Council's position. A copy of the objection is reproduced at Appendix 'A'. Table 2: Proposed Timetable Project Process Completion Date Public consultation and detailed scheme development March – May 2006 Application for an Order under Transport and Works 2 August 2006 Act 1992 (TWA) to authorise works submitted to the DfT Statutory Public Consultation (closing date) 13 September 2006 Public Inquiry (if required) Early 2007 Expected TWA Powers approved (subject to Summer 2007 Secretary of State for Transport approval) Expected signed contract for upgrade works Spring 2008 Expected start of construction Mid-2008 Expected completion of upgrade works Mid-2010 5. PUBLIC CONSULTATION Residents and business 5.1 Approximately 65,000 leaflets, including a questionnaire form attached to each leaflet, were distributed to residents and businesses along the line of route to Stratford and Beckton.