UK
Ireland
Scotland
London
Construction News
31/10/2014
Judicial Review Launched Over 'Super Sewer'
Southwark Council has applied for a judicial review to be carried out into plans to use a busy site in Bermondsey for a "super sewer" on the riverside of the Thames.
Last month, Communities Secretary Eric Pickles approved plans for the Thames Tideway Tunnel to commence. This would run from west to east London and aims to collect some 39 million tonnes of sewage which is discharged into the River Thames each year.
The sewage would be collected from 34 different discharge points along the tidal river before being taken to the Beckton sewage works for treatment.
The underground tunnel is due to take seven years to build, with construction set to start in 2016.
However, Southwark Council has argued that proposed work at the Chambers Wharf site in Bermondsey will have a "devastating impact" on the area.
In a statement, Councillor Peter John, Leader of Southwark Council, said: "I can now confirm we have issued the High Court with an application for a Judicial Review into the Secretaries of State's decision to approve plans for the super sewer in their current form because of the devastating impact the work will have on the lives of the thousands of people who live, work and go to school around the proposed Chamber's Wharf tunnel drive site."
He added that following the reports of a number of planning inspectors, it was concluded that Chambers Wharf would have a "very significant" impact on those residents living, as well as those working and going to school in the area.
The council suggested that Abbey Mills would be a more appropriate site, with less impact.
Barney Holbeche, Chair of Save Your Riverside residents' campaign group, commented: "It is very surprising and disappointing that ministers chose to ignore advice from the planning inspectorate and therefore go against the national policy statement on waste water which states that the tunnel should only be given consent if significant adverse impacts on health and quality of life from noise have been avoided.
"The credibility of the planning process is in doubt because of this decision on the tunnel and we therefore welcome the decision of Southwark Council to question the legalities of it."
A spokesperson for the Government said it was unable to comment on ongoing legal proceedings, but that it had "full confidence in the robustness of the development consent order."
(JP/IT)
Last month, Communities Secretary Eric Pickles approved plans for the Thames Tideway Tunnel to commence. This would run from west to east London and aims to collect some 39 million tonnes of sewage which is discharged into the River Thames each year.
The sewage would be collected from 34 different discharge points along the tidal river before being taken to the Beckton sewage works for treatment.
The underground tunnel is due to take seven years to build, with construction set to start in 2016.
However, Southwark Council has argued that proposed work at the Chambers Wharf site in Bermondsey will have a "devastating impact" on the area.
-- Advertisement --
In a statement, Councillor Peter John, Leader of Southwark Council, said: "I can now confirm we have issued the High Court with an application for a Judicial Review into the Secretaries of State's decision to approve plans for the super sewer in their current form because of the devastating impact the work will have on the lives of the thousands of people who live, work and go to school around the proposed Chamber's Wharf tunnel drive site."
He added that following the reports of a number of planning inspectors, it was concluded that Chambers Wharf would have a "very significant" impact on those residents living, as well as those working and going to school in the area.
The council suggested that Abbey Mills would be a more appropriate site, with less impact.
Barney Holbeche, Chair of Save Your Riverside residents' campaign group, commented: "It is very surprising and disappointing that ministers chose to ignore advice from the planning inspectorate and therefore go against the national policy statement on waste water which states that the tunnel should only be given consent if significant adverse impacts on health and quality of life from noise have been avoided.
"The credibility of the planning process is in doubt because of this decision on the tunnel and we therefore welcome the decision of Southwark Council to question the legalities of it."
A spokesperson for the Government said it was unable to comment on ongoing legal proceedings, but that it had "full confidence in the robustness of the development consent order."
(JP/IT)
Latest Construction News
17/01/2025
Leeds Trinity University has officially opened its newly refurbished City Campus at 1 Trevelyan Square in Leeds.
Completed by GRAHAM Interior Fit-Out, the transformation of the central Leeds site introduces state-of-the-art facilities designed to improve learning and collaborate with industry partn
17/01/2025
Trammell Crow Company (TCC) has secured planning permission for a Grade A logistics scheme in Heywood, Greater Manchester, following a successful planning appeal.
The development will feature two state-of-the-art industrial and logistics buildings. One building will house two units measuring 4,796
17/01/2025
Poole-based developer AJC Group has celebrated a record-breaking 2024, delivering 100 affordable homes, a significant increase from the 72 units completed in the previous year.
Since 2023, AJC Group has completed and handed over 172 affordable homes across five sites.
In 2024 alone, the developer
17/01/2025
Plans for one of the most ambitious parks projects in London have taken a significant step forward, with Haringey Council securing nearly two additional acres of land around The Paddock nature reserve in Tottenham Hale.
The agreement with Thames Water marks a major milestone in the transformation o
17/01/2025
Islington Council has unveiled two draft guidance documents aimed at helping residents, businesses, and developers combat climate change by making buildings more energy efficient and fostering a greener, healthier borough.
The consultation seeks feedback on the draft Climate Action Supplementary Pl
17/01/2025
The City of Wolverhampton Council has unveiled a £98 million investment plan over the next five years to develop around 500 new homes across the city.
The proposal, part of the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Business Plan, received Cabinet approval this week and now moves to Full Council for final
17/01/2025
Croydon Council has announced a significant milestone in the redevelopment of the Purley Pool site, with revised proposals submitted for a new leisure centre, later living housing, and the regeneration of the surrounding area.
A planning application for the site was initially submitted in 2024, pro
17/01/2025
The City of Wolverhampton Council has announced that demolition work has commenced on the New Park Village estate, marking the start of a major £40 million redevelopment project to transform outdated council housing.
Contractor DSM Demolition has begun pulling down poor-quality bungalows on Valley
17/01/2025
Hillingdon Council has acquired 12 new homes at Carpenters Court in Uxbridge.
Leader of Hillingdon Council, Cllr Ian Edwards and Cllr Steve Tuckwell, Cabinet Member for Planning, Housing and Growth, visited the site to officially mark the handover of the properties from local developer Kearns Devel
17/01/2025
Organisers of UK Construction Week (UKCW) have announced another major coup for the show's 10th anniversary year, with the news that UKCW London will be co-locating with the 14th edition of The Stone Show & Hard Surfaces, the principal industry event for surface design.
Established 26 years ago, th
