West Heath Road to Queen Elizabeth Park

This section will now be undertaken as an open cut installation and runs from the east of Cove Brook, along the railway line to Stake Lane. The section is approximately 300m long in total.

Compound 4AD off West Heath Road will be used to support these works.

We are looking at narrow working installation techniques to see if we can avoid undertaking works within private gardens. If we need to work within private gardens, we will discuss this with the affected landowners in early 2023.

Open cut installation is likely to start from April 2023. Work is estimated to take around four months to complete.

Before installation, we will:

Make contact with all residents and landowners who are directly impacted by the works to take detailed records of condition. We will also need to acquire Network Rail permission and other utility owners permissions before starting works.

We will also undertake environmental mitigation. This will include recording habitats suitable for protected species such as reptiles and badgers.

If required, we may remove all resident fences, boundary furniture and garden features as required within the Order Limits.

We will securely fence the site with temporary fencing and install noise mitigation measures such as acoustic blankets to reduce noise and disruption.

This section will now be undertaken as an open cut installation and runs from Stake Lane, across Prospect Road, along the southern boundary of  the allotments and into Queen Elizabeth Park.

We will be completing this section of installation in two phases:

1) Stake Lane to Prospect Road and
2) Queen Elizabeth Park to Prospect Road.

Together the sections are approximately 440m long.

Open cut installation in this section will require Network Rail and third party approvals. We will also require a road closure on Prospect Road. For this we will need to seek a permit through the Highways Permitting Scheme.

In this section, there are a number of challenges in this section including a significant number of buried utilities which we need to work close to. In early 2023 we will be undertaking further trial holes in Prospect Road to determine the location of utilities. More specifically to determine the location of two high voltage electrical cables belonging to Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE).

Stake Lane to Prospect Road – Open cut street works

The section between Stake Lane and Prospect Road is approximately 200 metres. We will work in shorter sections to reduce the impact to residential properties and ensure access is retained to Brewers Close. This is known as a rolling works front.

In early 2023 we will confirm the configuration of the works in this area. Stake Lane will remain open with traffic lights for the duration of the works, we will be installing in only one carriageway at any time.

Driveway access directly in front of our fenced working area will be suspended. We will create alternative parking within our Order Limits for residents with restricted driveway access. Residents on Brewers Close will retain access.

Parking will also be suspended at the turning area at the end of Stake Lane.

Stake Lane garages will need to be removed during installation as they will be within the working area.  We will contact landowners directly to discuss their arrangements under  their existing land agreements.

Queen Elizabeth Park to Prospect Road – Open cut installation

We will be undertaking open cut installation from the park to Prospect Road moving east to west. This change in installation technique will not require any further vegetation removal in Queen Elizabeth Park.

The construction compound off Cabrol Road (Compound 4AE) will support these works.

We will open cut through the allotments, working closely with the Prospect Road Allotments association and its tenants. We will fully reinstate the allotments following completion of the works.

Once installation reaches Prospect Road, we will demobilise from Compound 4AE and reinstate the park’s play area and car park.

For this work there will be a full road closure of Prospect Road. All diversions will be clearly signposted.

We will now be using open cut installation to install:

• Section One – Cove Brook East to Stake Lane (previously TC017) and
• Section Two – Stake Lane to Queen Elizabeth Park (previously TC018).

Using an open cut trench is the most common technique for installation of the pipeline.

To install we will:

• Establish the working area.
  • This may include ground protection mats and top soil stripping of the trench.
  • If required, we may remove all resident fences, boundary furniture and garden features as required within the Order Limits.
  • We will securely fence the site with temporary fencing and install noise mitigation measures such as acoustic blankets to reduce noise and disruption.
• Weld the pipes together in sections called ‘strings’, ready to install. This will all take place within the established working area. All pipes and welds are checked before they’re put in the ground.
• Excavate the trench to the required depth with the soil stored opposite the working area or at an appropriate location.
• When the trench is ready the pipe strings are lifted into the trench. This can be done in sections.
• Connect and weld each pipe string together once in place in the trench. Once safely installed soil is put back in the trench and compacted. Construction equipment is taken away and the area reinstated.

When working in the road these activities are undertaken in a different order as the trench is opened first to visually inspect the location of existing pipes and cables (other utilities).

Find out more about this installation technique here.

Section one – East of Cove Brook to Stake Lane

Before we start open cut installation between the east of Cove Brook to Stake Lane, we will need to undertake some vegetation and tree removal.

• We do not plan on removing trees within residential gardens.
• We aim to use narrow working techniques to reduce the amount of tree and vegetation removal.
• We will continue to maintain our environmental commitments; including one for one tree replanting with native species and provide a five-year aftercare period for all vegetation.
• We will fully reinstate the working area and residential gardens once installation is complete.

Section two – Stake Lane to Queen Elizabeth Park

This change in installation technique to open cut will not require any further vegetation removal in Queen Elizabeth Park.

Compound 4AD off West Heath Road will be used to support the works in section one which runs from the east of Cove Brook to Stake Lane (previously TC017).

Compound 4AE off Cabrol Road will be used to support the works in section two but only for the works between Queen Elizabeth Park and Prospect Road. Once installation reaches Prospect Road, we will demobilise from Compound 4AE and reinstate the park’s play area and Cabrol Road car park.

Our working areas are fully secure with locked gates and 24-hour security.

We will fully reinstate the working area and residential gardens once installation is complete. Reinstatement will be undertaken on a like for like basis.