Redbridge

Proposed work: 

As part of our ongoing commitment to maintain the gas supply, we need to carry out some works to lengthen the life of this key asset and improve its security.

The map provides a bird’s eye view of the existing site in Redbridge where we need to carry out the following maintenance and improvements:

• Replacement of some equipment on our main Redbridge Lane West site including mechanical equipment and pipe support
• Modification of smaller adjacent cadent site to replace ladders and platforms to make it safe for our personnel
• Installation of fencing to improve the safety of the site and replacing perimeter fence with higher specification fencing.

In order to facilitate this work, we need to:

• Undertake some vegetation and tree removal
• Install a temporary site compound for our construction team, including welfare facilities, storage for machinery and equipment, parking for HGVs and a main project office. This will be based at Redbridge Lane West Allotments.

We will ensure all ecological surveys are complete prior to commencing work and we will replace every tree removed with five new trees. During construction, our team will use the latest technology to make our operations quieter for our neighbours and we will monitor noise levels throughout our activities. We are working alongside the Redbridge Neighbourhood Street Scene Team and a specialist consultant to ensure all work is undertaken safely.


Pre and post view of our sites:

Our footprint of our site will change due to the works we need to carry out.  
 
We have been in discussions with affected allotment holders over the past few years to see how their leases for the allotment areas will change.  We have made relevant agreements with affected allotment holders as applicable to their specific needs.  At  Redbridge Lane West allotment, nine allotment holders were affected by our plans but the remaining allotment holders will not have to change their allotment plots.

Minimal Impact Strategy:

When planning our essential upgrade works, we developed  a “Minimal Impact Strategy” to ensure our construction works show few signs of our presence to our local neighbours.

As a result of the valuable feedback received from the council and local community, we have made the following proposals to limit our construction impact by splitting our work compound areas.

Our Lands and Planning team carried out thorough investigations of the Redbridge site to find a suitable space for our construction compound. The teams originally found Redbridge Lane West Allotment to be the most suitable location; however, after considering the impacts, it was decided that splitting the compound between Wanstead Park and Redbridge Lane West Allotment sites would reduce the impact significantly.

We have also committed to reduce noise where we can during our construction phase by investing in the latest technology for machinery. We will monitor noise throughout our activities on site so we can mitigate the impacts to our neighbours.
 

This compound will be used for:

• Main project office
• Welfare facilities
• Store equipment needed for construction
• Park and ride to the construction site
• Storage of HGVs and plant

Working with allotment holders:

The disruption of our works to individual allotment holders will vary according to their plot’s location; we have arranged these plots into various groups based on the level of impact.

We have been working closely with the nine allotments holders whose plots will be mostly affected by our construction works; We have made arrangements with these allotment holders to support them to either temporarily vacate their plots or by moving their plot to a new location.
 
We are pleased that the remainder of the allotment holders will be able to stay at their plots during the construction phase.
 
We know that those allotment holders who will be able to carry on using their plot during the work will still be able to see and hear the works taking place. We strive to be a considerable neighbour at all times and will share our plans on how we will reduce this impact during construction post-detailed design.

We are committed to benefitting the community we are impacting during these works in the long term. Therefore, we will carry out improvements to the allotment facilities, such as installing a new toilet facility and providing a new communal water supply.

Wanstead Park:

As a result of feedback received during our consultations, our main project compound will be set up in Wanstead Park, behind Wanstead Park Road Allotments and screened by trees.

•  We are liaising with the allotment holders who are located near the proposed compound.
•  There will be no direct impact on the allotments at Wanstead Park Road Allotments.
•  We need to make improvements to the existing access road to make it safe and practicable for the duration of our work.
• We are aware of the presence of beehives on the Wanstead Park Road Allotments and we have been working with the beekeepers and Redbridge Council to ensure they have been safely transferred to a new location.

A new timeline of construction activities will be available post Secretary of State decision.

Our dedicated community relations team are happy to help if you have any questions.
Email: redbridgeagi@communityrelations.co.uk
Call: 0800 068 7925
You can reach our team Monday to Friday between 9am and 5:30pm. As a considerate neighbour in Redbridge, we hope to respond to your enquiry as soon as possible.

Timeline:

We will be continuing to engage with local stakeholders regularly as we develop and refine our designs and plans throughout all stages of the project lifecycle, to ensure that we can minimise our impact and make the project work best for the local community.

• Thursday 13th January 2022 from 4-5pm for councillors, ward members, Vision representatives - virtual session
• Thursday 13th January 2022 from 6-7pm for allotment holders from Wanstead Park Road - virtual session
• Thursday 20th January 2022 from 6-7pm - drop in session for any allotment holder - virtual session
• Wednesday 26th January 2022 from 6-7pm at Wanstead Golf Club (Subject to COVID-19, if a face to face meeting is not possible, this meeting will change to a virtual meeting.)
• Wednesday 9th February 2022 from 6-7pm for Redbridge Lane West allotment holders at Wanstead Golf Club
• Thursday 24th February 2022 - 6:30-7:30pm for Redbridge Lane West allotment holders at Wanstead Golf Club
• Wednesday 23rd March 2022 - 6:30-7:30pm open to all allotment holders at Wanstead Golf Club
• Wednesday 27th April 2022 - 6:30-7:30pm open to all allotment holders at Wanstead Golf Club

FAQs:

Why do these works need to be completed in a specified timeframe?

We have driven this project timeline, in consultation and agreement with The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem), to complete the works at this site, during the regulatory period 2021-2025, as part of a wider business strategy to secure our customers future energy demands.

When will definitive details around the start/end date of the works be given?

We are still at the critical early design & procurement stages of this project, however our key focus will be our engagement with you at every step of the way, keeping you informed of our progress throughout. We are working towards a construction start date of 2023.

What are you doing to minimise inconvenience?

We are liaising closely with Redbridge Council and expert Consultants to plan our work. We will engage with the affected stakeholders in advance to discuss what we are doing so that we can plan a scheme which considers the needs of local people and the environment.

How are we protecting local wildlife and ecology during the proposed works?

We have carried out a thorough review of the site and conducted a series of ecological and environmental surveys to help us understand the local ecology and potential habitats on site. These surveys identify the measures we need to take to protect the environment, including any protected species.

We have a dedicated team who work hard to protect areas of local amenity value. These include important existing habitats and landscape features such as historic hedgerows, surface and ground water resources and nature conservation areas. There will be a 5:1 replanting policy in place for any trees we need to remove, and clearance work will be under the watch and guidance of an appointed ecologist.

We are liaising with Redbridge Council and the Neighbourhood Street Scene team to ensure that we carry this work out as effectively as possible. We always aim to leave the environment where we undertake our work in a better condition than before.

Will construction affect air quality in the local area - how do you monitor this?

We follow the requirements of the local authority set out in our planning conditions and government guidance relating to vehicle movements, cyclists, noise, pollution etc.

Who are you working with?

Most importantly, we engage with the local communities that we are likely to impact. We will continue to liaise with relevant stakeholders throughout the life cycle of the project.

We are engaging with the London Borough of Redbridge including local politicians, Vision Redbridge Culture and Leisure, leisure and planning officers from the Regeneration, Property and Planning department, the principal arboricultural and horticultural officer from the Neighbourhood Street Scene and the Highways Safeguarding Adult Board Team (acting as Lead Local Flood Authority).

During our maintenance works we use experienced and qualified contractors to carry out the work on our behalf. We manage our contractors and monitor their performance closely.

What hours would you be working?

Working hours would be 7am until 6pm weekdays. If weekend work is necessary, we’ll agree this with the local authority, and write to you to inform you.

Would these works have any effect on local traffic?

We are at early stages of our traffic management plan, however, our traffic management plans consider the local area, road network and speed limits and avoids residential areas where possible. It’s designed to minimise disruption whilst we’re working on our sites.

All heavy vehicle deliveries will call us in advance to discuss the best route to site and arrange dates and times to avoid a queue on local roads. We’ll make a passing point for vehicles in the site compound/ access road, and we’ll install traffic signage at the proposed site entrance to keep access entrances clear at all times.

Traffic management will be agreed with the local authority. As soon as we have more detailed information, we will ensure that we communicate this out to the local community.

Do you need any sort of permission to do this work?

As an essential infrastructure provider, Cadent benefits from permitted development rights for gas transporters under Part 15 Class A of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 2015. Most of our works fall under these rights with the exception of the works to upgrade the security fencing which will require planning permission.

Cadent has already engaged with the London Borough of Redbridge through a pre-application enquiry and will continue to liaise with the planning team, other consultees and stakeholders throughout the planning process as the detailed design is developed. We are committed to working closely with the council to submit this planning application.

What will happen to the drainage ditch at Redbridge Road West allotments during construction work?

We hope this diagram will explain what are propsed plans are for the drainage ditch.

 

The plans for the drainage ditch next to Cadent's site during construction

 

What are the options for the nine allotment holders who are being asked to move during construction?

We have proposed four options for allotment holders:

1. To take a two year break from your allotment
2. To move to an alternative plot temporary
3. To move to an alternative plot permanently
4. To terminate your existing contract

When will these options have to be taken?

The timing is up to the indiviual allotment holders. We will work with these allotment holders to discuss the best timing for them in line with the construction period. This is the reason why we need to have direct conversations with these specific nine allotment holders.

We have given examples below to explain why the timings may vary depending on an individual's decision.