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#1381
April 2nd, 2009, 06:29 AM
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The big property projects like the Shard (in order of tallest built & u/c in London - 1st), the Pinnacle (2nd), Heron (3rd), Riverside South (5th) are all steamrolling ahead - the 2012 Olympics being a deadline. You also of course have the massive transport and cultural works that have begun and will soon kick off, eg Crossrail, Thameslink, East London Line Extension, Heathrow East, 2012 Olympic Venues, British Museum Extension, Tate Modern Extension, etc... There are some 25 towers over 150m+ that are either u/c, approved or proposed that will most likely be built by 2020 (and then that excludes the multitude of future unknown towers expected as London powers on). Prior to 2000, there were only 2 x 150m towers. Most projects that aren't in full speed ahead construction mode are either seeing gradual work done on site or works are postponed until 2010, eg 122 Leadenhall. You do of course have several 100m residential developments that have stalled, eg Eagle House which has seen four floors built but not much else - but even these I expect will begin to rise in the next 2-3 years. There are several attractions as to why London is able to pull off all these projects: - Unlike most other cities - supply didn't meet demand in the good times, and still doesn't even in the bad times - Construction costs (and materials) have fallen off a cliff (although that is pretty much similar across the globe) - The £ is making London an exceptionally attractive place to invest, hence why the Arabs and Russians are pumping funds in, with the Chinese and Japanese following suit - London 2012 is creating an extra stimulus for hotels, housing, stadia, and new infrastructure to connect them all - The UK government is pumping significant sums of money into initiatives to help employment, eg Crossrail and ensure that the UK and London are in a position to seize the world once the global economy picks up. Due to London's nature of being intrinsically more connected to the outlook of the global economy than that of the UK or Europe's (in contrast to say New York which is more reliant on the US), I think London will respond far quicker in the up turn than other world cities. That will in turn ensure that further developments are announced or present ones are not held back for longer. And indeed, thank god for Crossrail! This is the biggest project in Europe at the moment. Crossrail is the purple line running right to left in the below map.  Just need to get started on Crossrail 2 (bottom left to top right via London Victoria and London King's Cross & St Pancras), and then Crossrail 3 (via London Euston and London Waterloo), and a few other Crossrail lines to complete the package - I have always enivisioned several lines.... Thameslink - London St Pancras - London Bridge (massive expansion of the system to cope with 12-carriage 24tph services) Crossrail 1 - London Paddington - London Liverpool Street (u/c) Crossrail 2 - London King's Cross - London Victoria (route safeguarded - possible construction starting in 2010 once the East London Line Extension is opened) Crossrail 3 - London Euston - London Waterloo (planning stage) Crossrail 4 - London Liverpool Street - London Waterloo Crossrail 5 - London Marylebone - London Fenchurch Street Crossrail 6 - Loop Line around Central London with lines entering from London Bridge Crossrail 7 - Loop Line around Central London with lines entering from London Victoria.... It will happen one day! New White Hart Lane, 58,237 - Proposed Tottenham Hotspurs (or Spurs for short) have officially announced their plans for rebuilding their stadium in North London. It will be built on the current stadium site, with an all-seated capacity of 58,237 spread across four tiers. Spurs have a large fan base, but have in recent seasons been under performing, and while construction costs have fallen, financing is a big hurdle to be crossed. Another issue that the owners face is that unlike their bitter rivals Arsenal who built the 60,000 Emirates Stadium a few years ago - White Hart Lane lacks the numerous train lines to allow fans to easily leave the stadium and surrounding area. There are four (three of which are tube) stations surrounding the Emirates, compared to two (none are tube) stations for White Hart Lane. Also like the Emirates, White Hart Lane is located in an urban area and parking is not a serious consideration, unlike most North American stadia. The great bonus of this is that the communities are tight-knit and create an eccentric neighbourhood atmopshere absent in the US and Canada. Being so close to the community also means that the new stadium will incorporate new facilites for the community including a new public square, new housing, a hotel, a museum, and shops. The new White Hart Lane would become London's fifth largest stadium (Wembley: 90,000, Twickenham: 82,000, 2012 Stadium: 80,000, Emirates: 60,000), but it could be London's 7th largest stadium if West Ham (60,000) and Chelsea (60,000) manage to officially announce, finance and build their stadiums. Pictures sourced by Jim B at SSC.    Wimbledon Centre Court, Retractable Roof Work is coming to a close on an expanded Centre Court (15,000 capacity) with a new retractable roof.  London 2012 Aquatic Centre. Pictures taken by Manuel at SSC.   Olympic Stadium. Pictures taken by Manuel at SSC.      And MartinLeRoy from SSC has created some amazing renders of the Olympic stadium. It is planned that the 'wrap' will be a giant digital canvass that ensures that those not inside the stadium or in front of a TV can view the games. The London 2012 games will be about being as inclusive as possible to all people - a contrast and defining difference to the Beijing Olympics.   Rogers' British Museum extension plans revealed 1 April, 2009, Richard Waite http://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/n...996333.article Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners (RSHP) has revealed its long-awaited design for the £135 million extension to the British Museum in London  The 17,000m2 project, facing Montagu Place in the north-west corner of the museum site, will house conservation laboratories, a logistics hub for moving collections and storage areas spread over seven levels – three below ground. The only part of the new ‘five pavilion’ scheme open to the public will be a 1,000m2 special exhibition space, which will replace the Reading Room as the home for temporary shows.  Due to be submitted to Camden Council for planning later this month, the scheme is the largest development of the museum complex since Foster + Partners’ reworking of the Great Court in 2000. It will sit next to the Grade I-listed King Edward VII galleries, designed by JJ Burnet and completed in 1914.  It has taken nearly two years since RSHP first won the project in May 2007, ahead of the likes of David Chipperfield and Stanton Williams, for the final designs to emerge.  Following discussions with CABE, English Heritage and local conservation groups, an original heavily glazed proposal made way for a more ‘restrained’ cast glass and stone facade over a ‘delicate’ steel frame.  Project architect Graham Stirk said: ‘The plan form had always been a series of Kahn-esque staggered pavilions, but the language has evolved. Initially we had very consistent columns with a series of suspended volumes under big curved soffits.  ‘But people got worked up by the amount of glazing and the special exhibition team wanted a [closed] black box that could house lighting rigs.’ Stirk said the scheme now balanced ‘monumentality with transparency and delicacy’. He added: ‘The designs have a sense of solidity, but with the cast glass you’ll see the activity inside, with glimpses into a private world with people in white coats working on collections. It is working in a quiet way… but at night it will be amazingly vibrant.’ The building, which will use modular off-site construction, is expected to open in late 2012. Tate Modern Extension - Approved The world's largest modern art museum has just got larger - the Tate Modern has now been awarded planning permission for its large extension designed by Herzog & de Meuron (the original architects who converted the power station). The extension is anticipated to open by 2014, but if additional funding is sourced, it could be complete by 2012. Images from the Tate's website. Model images taken by DarJoLe at SSC.       
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#1382
April 5th, 2009, 01:10 PM
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Love that TFL map for 2025, could just about make out the legend, I know the crossriver and the west end tram plans have been binned by Boris, a few more on there I suspect will never see the light of day. 7 Crossrails, now that is pushing the boat out, confident about crossrail 1, thameslink and the overground extensions but not sure about the one with asterix next them, saying that 2025 is long way off.
We are seeing a real flurry of approved stamps coming through at the moment, Mirax-Beetham just a week os ago a good example. Not sure what to make of the Tate modern render, will have to see that in the flesh I think.
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#1383
April 5th, 2009, 05:19 PM
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Yet while they have been binned, they will probably see the light of day in some form from 2012 onwards, either under a new mayor or because congestion becomes to bad that there is no other way to solve the issues that those neighbourhoods face. As you note - 2025 is a long time into the future. Work on Crossrail Line 1 has just begun, while we have just entered Key Output 0 on the Thameslink programme an the East London Line Extensions are presently being built due for around 2010. The route for Crossrail 2 is already protected: http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/...directsafe.pdf The only new lines that will be built in London this century (excluding extensions and line splits, eg Northern Line) will be Crossrail-like lines connecting National Rail metro services (what Thameslink and Crossrail do) to take the burden off of the 13 termini and those who then bundle onto the Tube. Crossrail 1 is due by 2017. Crossrail 2 will probably follow in 2020, and I suspect that we will hear before the Olympics, detailed plans for Crossrail 3. The other plans will take longer, but variations of those routes will most likely be built this century. More outlandish would be seperate tunnels under Central London connecting the airport express rail services together allowing for cross-city airport transfers.
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#1384
April 21st, 2009, 10:01 AM
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London 2012 Olympics Update
Pictures sourced from darrenjle15 @ Flickr. Pictures taken by Anthony Charlton Olympic Stadium    Aquatic Centre    Velopark    International Broadcasting Centre  Olympic Village   
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#1385
April 25th, 2009, 01:45 PM
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Oxford Circus Tokyo-inspired crossing work starts
Filed 15/04/09 http://www.transportbriefing.co.uk/story.php?id=5798 Work begins this week on a £5m project to transform one of Britain's busiest pedestrian crossings to make it easier for shoppers to access London's West End. Taking a lead from Tokyo's famous Shibuya crossing, existing barriers and street clutter around Oxford Circus will be removed and crossings remodelled in order to give pedestrians the freedom to move around quickly both straight ahead and diagonally across Regent Street and Oxford Street. Redesigned road edges will double the amount of pavement and space around the exits to Oxford Circus Tube station will be freed up. As part of the scheme more than half a kilometre of Regent Street and Oxford Street are being updated with wider pavements and new lighting. Main contractor for the work is West One while the new crossing designs have been drawn up by engineering consultant Atkins following discussions with Westminster City Council's transport department. The project team has utilised computer software adapted from technology used in blockbuster films, including Lord of the Rings and known as 'Fathom' and 'Legion', to model pedestrian movements.  The revamped crossing is due to reopen in time for the Regent Street and Oxford Street Christmas lights to be switched on in November and forms a key part Westminster City Council's wider plans to renew the West End ahead of 2012. The Oxford Circus project is being funded with £2.5m from The Crown Estate, which owns the whole of Regent Street, and £2.85m from Transport for London, and is supported by the New West End Company which represents businesses in Bond Street, Oxford Street and Regent Street. Atkins project manager, Chris Greenwood, said: "By using the latest 3D modelling techniques we were able effectively to put 5,000 people into the redesigned crossing area to see what would happen. The results we got indicated the design changes should have a massively beneficial effect. While this was a virtual simulation the software we're now using is so realistic we are totally confident the real world results will be just as good." Cllr Danny Chalkley, Westminster City Council's cabinet member for environment and transport, added: "Taking our inspiration from the Far East makes perfect sense as the Japanese have perfected the art of managing large numbers of people through good design and engineering, and the West End, like Tokyo's Shibuya district, is a fashion and entertainment hub which attracts visitors in huge numbers. "This new crossing, which will transform Oxford Circus and ensure visitors who emerge from the Tube are impressed by what greets them, is part of a whole series of improvements taking place to ensure the West End looks truly world class in time for 2012." The designated pedestrian crossings on each of the four roads entering Oxford Circus will be enhanced by two diagonal crossings across the centre of the junction, which will link with each corner. Traffic lights will be rephased so that vehicles from all four directions will be stopped simultaneously for 30 seconds allowing people to walk safely across the junction diagonally. The complete traffic sequence will be 115-120 seconds. As part of the work additional 'oases' will be created in nearby side roads Princes Street and Little Argyll Street, which will be part pedestrianised to allow for al fresco dining and possible street entertainment. For the duration of the works Princes Street will act as the main support depot for construction. Impressive Video: http://vimeo.com/4146548 Redevelopment of Guy's Hospital Rumours have been circulated that the world's tallest hospital was due to be given a reclad. An image has now appeared of said job. The present tower is 143m tall, but what looks like an addition to the tower would see it increased to over 150m. Also visible in the render is a complete London Bridge Tower, and a pre-redeveloped London Bridge station (the world's oldest train terminus that will be given a massive modernisation programme. Image sourced by Ciudad Bristol at SSC.  Columbus Tower, 237m london lad at SSC has sourced new images from CABE's review of ammendments to the crown and base for the Columbus Tower. This won't be constructed until the Crossrail station is built as the tunnels will be built directly under the station.     London St Pancras Station Interesting shots of St Pancras from where Eurostars depart to the continent. Pics taken by Vodski Bandit     I’ll turn West End building site into the grow-bag allotments Rosamund Urwin, 21.04.09, http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standa...nts/article.do THE abandoned “Noho Square” development could be turned into allotments where residents grow fruit and vegetables in large, portable “grow bags”. Rebecca Hossack, a Conservative councillor for Camden who also runs two art galleries in the area, is campaigning for residents to use the three-acre building site north of Oxford Street as demand for allotments soars. The Bloomsbury site is expected to lie empty for at least two years after developers the Candy brothers pulled out of the scheme, which they had named Noho Square, last October. Their partner in the development, Icelandic bank Kaupthing, still owns the site, but is now in exclusive talks with developer Stanhope about building there and has said it will consider the allotment request.  Industry experts predict that they will not start building on the square for up to five years. Ms Hossack, 53, who already grows her own vegetables outside her Conway Street gallery, believes the former Middlesex Hospital site should be used to help offset the shortage of growing space in London. Her other gallery is in nearby Charlotte Street. “We hope the developers will see this as a good way of giving something back to the community,” Ms Hossack said. “This is a huge site at the heart of London and it would be a shame to leave it empty when so much could be grown there.” The bare ground is unsuitable for plants but she plans to use the giant grow bags filled with soil on the land. She has been inspired by other Londoners who have managed to convert spaces previously considered unsuitable into gardens. The John Scurr Community Centre in Limehouse has turned wasteland into a community garden, using boxes made out of recycled timber and tyres in which to grow vegetables. Kaupthing admits that it will take at least a year to get planning permission for its development. Mike Samuels, head of Kaupthing's real estate team, said: “We would like to help them with this if we can. There is a question of insurance and liabilities, but if these problems can be overcome, they may well be able to use the site.” Gardeners in London can face up to a 10-year wait for an allotment after the number of plots available fell by 1,500 in the last decade as developers claimed green spaces. Geoff Stokes, Secretary of the National Society of Allotments & Leisure Gardeners, said: “There is a huge demand for allotments in London, particularly in the inner boroughs.” Sam Clark, chef at Moro restaurant in Exmouth Market, who ran the Manor Garden allotments on the river Lea until they were moved to make way for the Olympics, said: “It's a fantastic idea. I love raised beds and you can be very productive on an allotment in a year. All you need is a summer and a spring and you can produce a fantastic amount of crops. Everyone is aware of the importance of not wasting space in London and it's such an untapped source to use a small area of land for growing on.” Growing bags — which can be bought from garden centres and seed sellers such as Unwins for less than £5 — are also used in the Vacant Lot site in Hoxton, a formerly inaccessible and run-down plot of housing estate land. It was turned into a garden by handing residents a half-tonne bag each of soil as their plot. After spending £6 on seeds, one managed to grow 200 lettuces, as well as cucumbers, carrots and spring onions. [b]Best plots to grow your own[/] Prior Street Allotments, Greenwich, 18 plots Site is so popular there is a waiting list of more than 100 names. The person at the top of the list applied for a plot in 1998. Fulham Palace Meadows, 406 plots Covers Anglo-Saxon site of historical importance. Protected from development. Spa Hill, Crystal Palace Hill, 300 plots Site has an electricity generating wind turbine and a 200-year-old pond. Fitzroy Park Allotments, Hampstead, 88 plots The largest site in Camden. Holders are encouraged to swap produce. One Tree Hill, Honor Oak Park, 75 plots The site is on a steep hillside with a small wood. Holders proud of regular social events such as barbecues and bonfires. The Rosendale Allotments, Tulse Hill, 480 plots Site has a beekeeping area and greenhouses. Runs a farmers' market every second Sunday. King Henry's Walk Garden, Islington, 76 raised small bed plots Current president is Joe Swift of BBC television programme Gardeners' World. The Royal Paddocks, Hampton Wick, More than 200 plots The former paddock of the king's horses was granted by George V in 1921 for “use as allotments for the public”. Old Palace Lane, Richmond, 29 plots Once part of the old Sheen monastery, built in 1414 by Henry V for 40 monks. Rail franchises seek bids for 300 train carriages Filed 14/04/09 http://www.transportbriefing.co.uk/story.php?id=5795 Two train operators have invited expressions of interest from rolling stock manufacturers to supply a total of up to 300 new carriages. Stagecoach's South West Trains franchise is looking to buy between 120 and 180 vehicles to operate in 5-car formations in an order valued at approximately £180m. The company hopes to introduce the trains into service by December 2011 and has also requested a priced option covering maintenance of the carriages. Meanwhile London Midland, the Go-Ahead/Keolis owned franchise running commuter services along the West Coast Main Line, has invited tenders to supply between 40 and 120 electric multiple units with a top speed of 100mph. The company has invited tenders for three lots worth between £85m and £190m in total. Expected to run for up to six years, these contracts would cover the supply of the rolling stock, a full service maintenance contract plus operating lease finance.  The new vehicles will run in 3 or 4-car formations and be capable of use on both inner and outer commuting services. A minimum of 240 standard seats and 18 first class seats are required in each 4-car train. London Midland says that the new carriages must be introduced into revenue earning service from May 2011 and requests to participate in the procurement process must be submitted by 14 May this year. Expressions of interest for the South West Trains order are due in a fortnight earlier - by 1 May. 'Baby' Heron, 150m When the original Heron tower was designed, there would be a new piazza and a smaller tower. The smaller tower has now had a height increase to 150m. Noostairz at SSC has 'stretched' the original smaller tower design. Heron Tower is now fully u/c   Riva Hotel at Heathrow Airport Foster has designed a new hotel at Heathrow Airport. The images sourced by Ciudad Bristol don't really show an exciting exterior, but the interior looks interesting.      25,000 electric car charge points planned by Mayor Filed 09/04/09 http://www.transportbriefing.co.uk/story.php?id=5790 Mayor of London Boris Johnson has unveiled a package of measures designed to support an increase in the use of electric cars in the capital. The Mayor has pledged to work with businesses, boroughs and other public sector organisations to deliver 25,000 charging spaces alongside London's workplaces and shops and in streets, public car parks and railway station car parks by 2015. He has also promised to convert at least 1,000 Greater London Authority fleet vehicles to electric power by 2015. However, the Mayor's plans depend on financial support from central government. Costed at £60m, the Mayor is looking to government and the private sector to provide two thirds of the money needed to implement the package. The government has committed £250m to accelerate the electric vehicle market in the UK and the Mayor intends to lobby for London to receive a significant share of this in recognition of the importance of the capital to the uptake of electric vehicles. Johnson also proposes to alter the London Plan to require the installation of charging points in all new developments. The Mayor wants 20% of all new car parking spaces to be equipped with electric charge points. He has also guaranteed that the 100% exemption of the Congestion Charge for electric vehicles will remain in place, offering electric car users a saving of approximately £1,700 a year compared to running a diesel or petrol powered car. The measures are intended to build on the work of the London Electric Vehicle Partnership, founded by the Mayor in November 2008 and which includes representatives of the Greater London Authority, the motor and energy industries and the capital's boroughs, all working to share best practice, co-ordinate activity, and encourage greater funding of the technology. Boris Johnson said: "The time for simply talking about electric vehicles is over - we need real action on the ground to make the electric vehicle an easy choice for Londoners. I am today [8 April] committing millions to install the infrastructure needed for when, in just a few years time, these vehicles become much more widely available. "This is an unprecedented package of measures to make London the electric car capital of Europe. By taking these steps, we will not only create green collar jobs, but also smooth the way for less polluting transport choices which will improve our air quality, reduce traffic noise and contribute significantly to my carbon emissions reduction target. It is time for the government to put its money where its mouth is and back my plan to make electric vehicles the first choice for Londoners." 1 New Change Pictures taken by Nihil Dicit of the Nouvel project opposite St Paul's Cathedral. The walls are meant to be 'crooked'.        Heron Tower, 246m Various picture updates of the 246m tower: - GazKinz provides the first four photos - wjfox provides the last four photos         The Landmark - 140m + 98m Simple blocks that are nearly finished externally for the Isle of Dogs. Update by chest    100 Middlesex Street Picture update from SSC by chest (first 3 pics) and GazKinz (last 4 pics)        Rail options rejected by Dartford crossing study Filed 21/04/09 http://www.transportbriefing.co.uk/story.php?id=5814 Three options for a new river crossing in the Thames Estuary are to be explored by the Department for Transport following publication of a new report examining how to alleviate traffic congestion encountered by drivers at the existing Dartford crossing. The DfT-commissioned research - Dartford River Crossing Study into Capacity Requirements - proposes further detailed work should be carried out into the long term feasibility of providing a new crossing at one of three sites: at the site of the existing crossing; between the Swanscombe Peninsula and the A1089; or from east of Tilbury to east of Gravesend to the M20. The Dartford and Swanscombe Peninsula schemes are estimated to cost £1bn-£3bn to develop while the third option has a price tag of between £2.5bn and £7.5bn. Two other route alignments - an M2 link to Canvey Island and an Isle of Grain link to east of Southend, each of which was estimated to cost between £3.5bn and £10.5bn - were rejected. The report also rejects plans to provide new rail passenger or freight links as part of any new crossing. It reports that there is adequate capacity for international freight services between the Channel Tunnel and the West Coast Main Line via Maidstone and Swanley until 2031. According to the report, total passenger volumes between north Kent and Medway Towns and areas of south Essex are currently low, meaning that there is unlikely to be any significant demand for rail travel between these groups of stations, even assuming that a direct rail service was provided. The study, undertaken by transport engineering consultants WSP and Parsons Brinckerhoff, proposes further work on two scenarios which may provide improvements in the short-term. The first set of measures could see changes to the configuration of the toll plaza, signing and promotion of DART-Tags to see whether this would improve traffic flows. An alternative approach could result in one-way tolling with the removal of the southbound plaza to allow a larger improved northbound plaza. Transport Minister Andrew Adonis said: "The Dartford-Thurrock river crossing is a vital transport link for both the national and south east economies which has brought huge economic benefits and opportunities. However many more vehicles want to use the crossing than it can accommodate and congestion here is likely to get worse in the future unless something is done. "Following the completion of the first phase of a DfT-commissioned study, I am pleased to announce that further work is now to be carried out to look at improving journey time reliability and safety at the existing Dartford crossing, alongside a more detailed analysis of potential options for a new crossing." In February 2008 the DfT commissioned research to provide advice on the future need for additional crossing capacity in the Lower Thames and identify possible future options. The study concluded that the existing tunnel and bridge crossing is operating at or above its effective capacity for long periods, with typical daily flows of between 145,000 and 150,000 vehicles per day. The overall flows have reduced slightly in the last few years but the make up of traffic has changed, with greater number of HGV movements. Movements over the crossing show no pronounced morning or evening peaks, instead flows are high across the day. Recent analysis of performance under the Public Service Agreement for roads shows that the route containing the Dartford crossing is one of the routes with the highest levels of delay nationally with around 40 to 45% of crossing users experiencing delays. The injury accident rate for the network surrounding and including the crossing is twice the national average. The study looked at the forecast future performance of the existing Dartford crossing up to 2037 based on the predicted levels of traffic growth, the impacts of the planned expansion of the Port of Dover and the planned growth in the Thames Gateway. It concluded that without action, the situation is set to worsen significantly. The DfT says it has accepted the findings set out in the study and will commission the further work necessary to assess the suitability, deliverability and impacts of each of the three options. The three shortlisted options for a new Thames crossing Major Option A: This would provide additional long-term capacity at Dartford through the delivery of a new crossing while retaining all existing infrastructure (bridge and tunnels). This option would allow the possibility of taking the existing tunnels out of the strategic network and simplifying the network around the crossing. It also offers the shortest and most direct crossing route among the options tested. It potentially provides links to the Fastrack and SERT rapid bus schemes and has relatively low levels of environmental impact. Major Option B: This involves a new crossing in the vicinity of the Swanscombe peninsula. It would connect the A2 to the south in the vicinity of Dartford to the A1089 to the north in the vicinity of Tilbury Docks. It has been examined primarily to understand the impact of a solution for local traffic to relieve the existing Dartford crossing. For the purpose of the assessment, no major connections were included that would link the new crossing to the M25 to the north or the M20 to the south. The committed Eastern Quarry development site acts as a major constraint but if a route can be designed without an impact on Eastern Quarry, then it is recommended that Option B be carried forward into the next phase of assessment. If not, then it is recommended that the option should be rejected given the importance of Eastern Quarry to the Thames Gateway strategy. Major Option C: This option involves the provision of a new crossing to connect the M2 to the M25, located to the east of Gravesend and Thurrock. It would form a major new piece of infrastructure in the national highway network. While this option has considerable environmental impacts, it provides a direct route for longer distance routes using the M25 and M20 and would provide some relief to the existing Dartford crossing (although this would still be operating with high flows). It has the potential to support regeneration in the Thames Gateway area and could link to the flood relief barrage proposals. London Bridge Tower - 310m Nihil Dicit update of the site - the giant yellow device tests the piles to ensure that they are secure.      Wimbledon Centre Court Centre Courts' new roof and expanded capacity has now been finished. Work should also be finished soon on the expanded Court No 2. Wimbledon will also be used for the Olympics.  Animation of the Roof: http://www.building.co.uk/story.asp?...de=3139088&c=3 8 Litres per second of fresh air per person pumped into the bowl to manage the environment 9 Chiller units required to cool the air 10 Minutes (maximum) that the roof takes to close 10 Trusses holding up the roof 16 Metres - height of the roof above the court surface 30 Minutes – maximum time expected before play can start/continue after the roof is closed and the internal environment is controlled and stabilised 43 Miles per hour - wind speed up to which the roof can be deployed/retracted 77 Metres - the span of the moving roof trusses (width of football pitch = 68m) 70 Tonnes - weight of each of the 10 trusses without extra parts 100 Tonnes - weight of each of the 10 trusses with all extras – eg motors, locking arms 100 Percent of the roof’s fabric which is recyclable 214 MM per second - maximum speed of truss deployment 1,200 Extra seats installed in 2008 3,000 Tonnes - combined weight (both fixed and moving) of the roof 5,200 Square metres, area of retractable roof when fully deployed 7,500 Wimbledon umbrellas, needed to cover the same area as the retractable roof 15,000 Maximum spectator capacity 143,000 Litres per second – total amount of conditioned air that the air-management system supplies to the bowl 290million Tennis balls – number that could fit in the Centre Court with the roof closed         Greenwich Market Modernisation Pics sourced by london lad. The architects are Hopkins, who will add a new roofm, pedestrian link, a hotel, and new retail units. Work will begin in 2010, and all works will be finished prior to the Olympics.    Clapham One Mixed-use scheme with a new library, healthcare centre and homes. Pics by london lad.    Beckton cash heralds DLR-wide 3-car rail service Filed 20/04/09 http://www.transportbriefing.co.uk/story.php?id=5807 Docklands Light Railway has secured an £18.2m funding package to complete the upgrade of the DLR network to 3-car running. The money will allow 3-car trains to be introduced on the Beckton branch in time for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. By upgrading all DLR trains from two to three carriages capacity on the network will be increased by 50%. Three-car upgrade work is already underway on the Bank-Lewisham and Poplar-Stratford routes with a network-wide roll out of the extended trains due to start next year. Earlier this month Vinci Construction, the engineering contractor working on the £208m design and build 3-car infrastructure project, carried out a 52-hour weekend possession of East India station to extend platforms by 30 metres which involved lifting pre-cast concrete beams into place using two 500-tonne cranes. TfL London Rail managing director Ian Brown met representatives of the agencies which contributed to the Beckton spur funding package - the Olympic Delivery Authority, the London Development Agency and the Housing and Communities Agency - at DLR Prince Regent Station on Friday (17 April). The ODA provided £10.8m, the HCA £5.4m and the LDA £2m. Brown said: "We were concerned that the Beckton line was the only line where funding was not in place to upgrade to 3-car operation. It is a route which is growing fast as it serves the ExCeL exhibition and conference centre and the University of East London. "The funding partners have all come together to allow this route to be converted before the Games, so adding the last piece of the jigsaw to complete the DLR upgrade. It really does show commitment to ensuring that this route is capable of meeting future demand." Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, added: "Before a javelin has been thrown or a medal won the 3-car service will be running and delivering a fabulous service for 2012 Games goers. But most importantly it will leave a legacy of increased public transport capacity for the local people who use this route every day." The Beckton route is expected to carry 70,000 passengers - approximately 55,000 London 2012 spectators and 15,000 other passengers - a day during the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Royal London Hospital Towers Chest at SSC provides the pictures for the almost externally complete super-hospital development in Whitechapel (East London).      Tube cooling contract won by Mansell Construction Filed 14/04/09 http://www.transportbriefing.co.uk/story.php?id=5796 Transport for London has awarded Mansell Construction Services a £6m contract for work forming part of the Cooling the Tube Programme to improve ventilation on the London Underground. The Balfour Beatty subsidiary beat three other bidders to clinch a design and construction deal relating to the upgrade of mid-tunnel ventilation shafts along the Victoria Line. Environmental monitoring will form a large part of the job. TfL set up a dedicated project team for the Cooling The Tube Programme last year (Transport Briefing 24/06/08) in response to the problem of uncomfortable and potentially dangerous temperatures recorded on the Underground network during the summer months. However, the collapse of Metronet and cost of bringing work in-house has put pressure on the budget for planned Tube improvement works including the cooling programme. Victoria Line upgrade work is intended to build on the success of an award-winning ground water cooling scheme at Victoria Tube station by upgrading ventilation shafts along the line to double ventilation capability. Elsewhere on the Tube network London Underground will introduce air-conditioned trains on the Circle, District, Hammersmith and City and Metropolitan lines as part of an upgrade to the sub-surface lines. The first of these new trains will enter service from 2010. St Giles Court Piano's interesting development First 6 pics by BorderBoy, and last 7 pics by fitz44. Renzo Piano's reason for choosing 20 different colours of ceramic tiles (the cladding isn't plastic even though it looks like it) provided by fitz44.              Strata, 147m Update from Elephant & Castle by SE9 at SSC.       Greenwich Wharf A large mixed use development development due east of Greenwich. Pics from henry at SSC.       Pedestrianised Shaftesbury Avenue Plans found by fitz44 show a new pedestianised route taking up the northern section of Shaftesbury Avenue. It also shows the new St Giles Courtyard pedestrian space.   Hitchin flyover plans unveiled by Network Rail Filed 14/04/09 http://www.transportbriefing.co.uk/story.php?id=5792 Network Rail has revealed detailed plans for a long-awaited to scheme to remove a key bottleneck on the East Coast Main Line.  The £55m Hitchin flyover project will see construction of a new viaduct near Hitchin in Hertfordshire, allowing trains heading north from King's Cross to switch to the Cambridge line without crossing three ECML tracks. This currently reduces capacity for other services and makes the railway less reliable when delays occur.  The new rail link would avoid these problems, cutting delays to train services by nearly 18,000 minutes every year and helping create the capacity requested by train operators to run more services to and from the capital every hour. Improving the railway at the Cambridge junction is needed not only to solve the problems caused by the current track layout but to help meet growing demand for travel on the East Coast route. Over the past decade the number of passengers travelling between Peterborough and London has increased by 35% with an 18% increase in journeys between London and Cambridge. Despite the current recession this growth is expected to continue in the long term, as is freight traffic.  Richard Lungmuss, route director for Network Rail, said: "The investment we are planning in the Hitchin area is about improving transport links, reducing delays to passengers and increasing the number of services. Rail users the length of the country will feel the benefits of this scheme as we remove the biggest remaining pinch point on the East Coast Main Line." Network Rail's proposals have been developed working closely with North Hertfordshire District Council and other stakeholders. The design for the new rail line is as low profile as possible, involving a mixture of embankment and viaduct. A full environmental impact study will look at issues including landscaping, noise levels, rivers and flooding and ecology.  Following consultation with local residents Network Rail intends to apply for permission later this year to build the flyover. The infraco hopes this will be granted by early 2011, allowing work to start on the project later that year. This would mean that trains would be running on the new section of line around the beginning of 2014. Evergreen 3 rail design build contract advertised Filed 14/04/09 http://www.transportbriefing.co.uk/story.php?id=5797 Plans to create a new rail route between Oxford and London Marylebone have taken another step forward with the advertisement of a tender for a design and build contract for Project Evergreen 3. Train operator Chiltern Railways is seeking expressions of interest in the work to upgrade the Chiltern main line from London Marylebone to Fenny Compton Bank and the East West Rail Link from Bicester to Oxford station. The job includes design, construction, testing and commissioning of a new chord line at Bicester, linking the Chiltern line with the Bicester to Oxford east west route. Chiltern is progressing the Evergreen 3 scheme as part of its rail franchise agreement with government, which is unique in that it requires infrastructure improvements to be delivered in return for a full 20-year franchise. The company is holding a series of exhibitions this month to showcase its plans to local residents (Transport Briefing 06/04/09). Evergreen 3 will include an upgrade to the Chiltern main line to allow higher train speeds, additional capacity and operational flexibility. The scope of the main line works include major alterations to the signalling system, track changes, station platform alterations, civils and earthworks. Providing the new rail link to Oxford will entail design, construction, testing and commissioning associated with the upgrading of the East West rail link between Bicester Town and Oxford railway stations. The East West line upgrade will include replacement of old signalling with a new system, double tracking sections of single line, enhancements of existing structures, construction of a new station in north Oxford, reconfigurations of existing stations, replacements of level crossings with overbridges, civils and earthworks. The project also involves construction of a new Bicester chord linking the two lines and requiring new embankments, tracks, signalling, overbridge, civils and drainage works. Requests to participate in the tender are due in by 21 May. Wood Wharf - Canary Wharf Part II DarJoLe has sourced images from the Richard Rogers website of the masterplan for the Wood Wharf development. This is due east of the current Canary Wharf estate, individual towers will be awarded out to individual architects, with several 150m and 200m towers, a new pedestrianised space and park.                  Riverside South, 236m + 189m The vast 'pit' continues to be excavated, while piling continues. Pictures taken by Nihil Dicit      Regents Place West Quarter Various low-rise developments close to London Euston station. Pics by fitz44        King's Cross platform construction project begins Filed 24/04/09 http://www.transportbriefing.co.uk/story.php?id=5823 Work starts today (24 April) to construct a new, twelfth platform at London King's Cross station.  Part of a £450m station redevelopment scheme, the new platform will increase capacity by allowing between 7 and 24 more trains to use the station during the morning peak period and, crucially, will also significantly reduce any service disruption while other platforms are refurbished. It is being constructed next to the existing platform 1 on the eastern side of the station adjacent to York Way, space that was used as a covered taxi pick-up area in the past. Construction is expected to be complete by summer 2010.  Ian Fry, Kings Cross project director for Network Rail, said: "King's Cross is being transformed into a world class transport hub which can meet future demand and offer the best facilities for passengers. The new platform will allow even more trains to run in the long term, provide more space and enable us to keep train services fully operational throughout the redevelopment." Over the next decade passenger numbers at King's Cross - Britain's busiest transport interchange - are due to rise by 10m. The station currently suffers from congestion during peak hours. By 2013, passengers will experience a rejuvenated King's Cross station with more capacity, an additional platform for extra services and improved links with international and domestic services from St Pancras and the London Underground. As well as redeveloping the station itself, Network Rail will spend over £6m to create a major new public piazza space outside the southern end of the station which will be larger than Leicester Square. The north-east exit to York Way will close permanently from Friday (24 April) to allow work on the new platform to begin. Additional pictures of the renovation of the historic station (now 157 years old)      Reading Station Redevelopment Reading station is a major regional station west of London. Eventually Crossrail will be extended out to here, but currently the station struggles with too many services running through the station - currently even on a Saturday (ie not a weekday), a train leaves the station every 2minutes. The $2bn project will re-align converging lines to avoid conflict, a new entrances to ease congestion, additional lines, platforms and facilities  
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#1387
May 3rd, 2009, 07:11 AM
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#1388
May 9th, 2009, 05:27 AM
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#1389
May 9th, 2009, 09:52 AM
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Nice video.
I recall that another new building (pictured below) was planned at 100 Bishopsgate.  Was it planned on the site of the one shown on the left side of this photo? 
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#1390
May 15th, 2009, 06:21 PM
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Crossrail - Construction Begins The biggest engineering project in Europe officially began today. This is by far and away the most important project going on not just in London, but all of the UK. With a length of 118km running west to east (with two spurs), once finished it will be as long as the entire Singapore MRT system. The line will call at two of London's international airports, and connect with the lines to its three other international airports. It will serve its 3 biggest CBD's (the Square Mile, West End + Canary Wharf) and provide immense relief in Central London and on several commuter lines that currently terminate at London Paddington (in the east) and London Liverpool Street (in the west). Below are new renders and a construction picture of the station at Canary Wharf (illustrated as Isle of Dogs on the map). At todays exchange rate, the £500mn station is going to cost $761mn to be built, which will involve the draining of the dock that currently resides in its location (this will later be re-opened to the water), and 7 'levels construction down to the platforms. A new park will be built on the top level running the length of the station. The station box will be built by 2012, while the first train will run in 2017.     
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#1391
May 22nd, 2009, 06:04 AM
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Stratford Station Expansion
Images sourced by DarJoLe (flickr/SSC) from the london2012 website. New concourse and approach to the bridge (pics of that further down) that will span the station and connect up with the Stratford City development  Clockwise from 9'oclock: London Stansted Airport line, Great Eastern Main Line (up to Ipswich and Norwich), two platforms of which will be used for Crossrail, the two (and future third) platforms of the Central line are the runs that pop out of a tunnel at the end of the platforms), the u/c Stratford International Extension (which runs under the the station), the Jubilee line platforms, the DLR Stratford line platforms, slightly off the image to the left - the North London Line platforms. Stratford International - which is used by the Eurostars and Shinkansens is just off to the left   The bridge spanning over the North London line platforms      The third Central line platform - the main concourse is in the glass shed to the left - all platforms at Stratford are connected via three subways  The bridge for pedestrians eventually pushed over the station - count the number of trains in this shot.  New Thames Crossing These are the options for a potential new river crossing of the Thames (due east of London) as undertaken in a study by Parson Brinckerhoff in January 09 (sourced from londonreconnections.blogspot.com).  The most eastern crossing is located at 'option A', which consists of two tunnels (both northbound traffic) and a bridge (southbound traffic only) - the M25 - London's orbital motorway is connected on either bank. HSR1 (the line connecting London to Paris and the rest of Europe) is visible running along the north of the image (it goes into a tunnel just to the east of the crossing).  At present the traffic jams are severe, and a new crossing is needed to help facilitate free traffic movements, especially when Dubai Port World's new port opens on the north bank of the Thames. In addition there is a long-term requirement to create a new tidal barrier to protect London from future rises in the sea-level. This is due to the Thames Barrier although ensuring that London is protectd, could become inundated within a few decades, and could be incorporated into a new crossing to protect London into the 22nd century. The scale would be far larger and possibly several km in length.
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#1392
May 29th, 2009, 12:14 PM
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I read today on SleepNY that the City of London is nearly empty, and has enough space with its present unoccupied office space to fit 2/3 of Canary Wharf.
Why are they building more offices? Have many projects stopped in their tracks?
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#1393
May 29th, 2009, 04:40 PM
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Been meaning to do this for sometime - an update of 150m+ towers in London (note - some towers/developments are grouped together). Info sourced from skyscrapercity.com, and in order of height: 310m - Shard - U/C 288m - Bishopsgate - U/C 250m/200m/100m - Project Three Houses - Still at the design stage 237m - Columbus Tower - Won't start till Crossrail is complete (2016/17) because it is directly above the tunnels 246m - Heron Tower - U/C 236m/189m - Riverside South - both towers U/C 225m - 122 Leadenhall - Constructed up to basement, construction delayed till 2010 216m/203m/120m - North Quay - These 3 towers can't be built until Crossrail is built (so beginning 2016/17) because they're pretty much beside each other 206m - City Pride - Approved in April, so construction won't happen till site is cleared, probably a year off 200m/187/182m/154m - Wood Wharf - Masterplan approved in October 2008, individual towers yet to be designed 200m/180m/150m - Bishopsgate Goods Yard - Still at the design stage 200m - Whitgift Centre Tower - Still at the design stage 198m/147m/95m - Heron Quays West - Approved a year ago, but site has to be cleared first 197m - 1 Park Place - Approved late last year, but won't start till next year 181m - St Georges Tower - Approved, last phase of a massive residential complex down by Vauxhall. Could start 2010 170m/155m - Market Tower Towers - Towers still at the design stage 165m - 100 Bishopsgate - Current site lease doesn't expire till 2011 163m - Jumeriah Tower - Construction to be complete to coincide with the Olympics in 2012 161m/126m - Northgate Tower - Still at the design stage 160m/100m - Odlisk - Still at the design stage 160m - 20 Fenchurch Street - REIT Land Securities won't proceed until market picks up, so 2010 onwards 160m/92m/85m/66m - Cherry Orchard Towers - At desing staghe 159m - Sugar House - On hold 150m - Baltimore Wharf Tower - Will follow the low-rise structure which is still u/c 150m - Merchant Square Tower - Last phase of the Merchant Square project 150m+ Broadgate Centre Rdv - Several towers of unknown height to replace groundscrapers around Liverpool St Station None of these projects really mean much to London really though - Crossrail is where its at - 24 x 250m trains (per hour) connecting its three primary CBD's, two international airports, and with connections to three other international airports is what will push London forward this half of the century. Vacancy rates are a temporary motion in the great drive forward.
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#1394
May 30th, 2009, 02:49 AM
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I read that Crossrail wont be ready until 2017. What makes Crossrail better than the existing transport scheme?
Who is going to do business in London now in the face of the new revenue laws and the simple fact that practically half or more of the City has already fled? Just how are they going to sell this?
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#1395
June 3rd, 2009, 01:03 PM
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Well, for a start it's bigger, the tunnels will be wider so the trains can be wider and taller, they will be air conditioned, a common complaint on the underground. The trains will also be longer and have a higher top speed. The station platforms will be wider and longer too. The stations will be designed to cope with the high demand unlike many of the older stations and they will all have step free access. The signaling system will be up to the job (signal failure is common on the current system). The trains will use overhead AC current instead of third and forth rail DC system of the existing lines(safer). These are a few things, but remember this is NOT the reason £16 billion pounds are going to be spent on this project, just how it would be better than what we got now. Having said that, new underground trains are being built now and signaling, track and stations are gradually being upgraded so the contrast may not be so stark in 2017.
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