HS1 – Kent’s Experience Legacy not Liability

HS1 – Kent’s ExperienceLegacy not Liability

Presentation to HS2 Community Benefit SeminarWarwickshire County Council

20 March 2013

Overview• The starting point• Shaping the Legacy• The ‘Kent Tests’• Influencing and mitigation• Petitions … undertakings and assurances• Rail Link Countryside Initiative (RLCI)• Final Thoughts

The Starting Point

Kent CC took a strategic role which supported the principle of the rail link

Worked in partnership with stakeholders to secure the best possible terms for the people of Kent

It sought to maximise the economic benefits and minimise the environmental impacts

The Starting Point

International and Domestic Rail Service including 2 domestic stations

Improved journey times to London and changed commuter patterns

Biggest Archaeological Project in Europe

Shaping the Legacy

The 6 Key TestsInfluence

Project and Processes

Parliamentary Role

Communication and

Engagement

Environmental Mitigation

Environmental Legacy

The Kent Tests - did the scheme:

provide the best provision for International passenger services?

provide the best opportunities for improved domestic services?

provide the greatest capacity for the transfer of freight from road to rail?

The Kent Tests - did the scheme:

support the approved Kent Structure Plan and Regional Strategies?

Minimise the environmental impact upon communities and countryside?

Best serve the Country’s interest in terms of forming part of the European High Speed Networks

Influencing the Big Picture

Environmental Impact

• was minimised by a Special Planning Regime

• set out principles and over-arching framework

Played a key role in shaping this Planning Regime

• pre and post Parliamentary stage

• directly and with other stakeholders

Influencing the Big Picture

Environmental Minimum Requirements

• Code of Construction Practice

• Environmental Management Strategy

• Planning Memorandum• Heritage Deed• Spoil Disposal Strategy

Stakeholder Groups

• Planning Forum, • High Level Forum • Environment Forum

Petitions…Undertakings and Assurances

Petitioned in both the House of Parliament

Took a strategic stance to influence the character of the route

Kent Districts argued more local concerns supported by the Parish Councils and local community groups

Worked closely with others to minimise duplication and strengthen individual cases

Some 70 undertakings and assurances on wide range of issues

Mitigation Details – A flavour ...

60% alignment along existing

transport corridors

Sought to limit impacts on

settlements and landscape

25km in TunnelsRelocation of

Listed buildings

Lowering of the alignment (i.e. Boxley Valley)

Translocation of ancient

woodland soils – 25ha

Habitat compensation, ‘green bridges’

230ha woodland

Timely restoration of construction sites

Mitigation Details – A flavour ...

Vertical deviation

limited

99% surplus material used in

mitigation earthworks

Earthworks – screening and farming role

Extensive landscaping –

1.2million trees

Acoustic barriers in early

Rail Link Countryside Initiative and CAMs

Rail Link Countryside Initiative

Rail Link Countryside Initiative was agreed during the Parliamentary hearings

It was a £2 million legacy fund for projects within the wider rail link corridor – some 2km wide

in addition to mitigation works and was a form of local ‘compensation’ for hosting the railway

Available to groups or individuals and could complement existing funding streams


Purpose: • was to ‘promote, support, co-ordinate

and encourage projects that enhance and where appropriate improve access to, the landscape, ecology and heritage of the area affected by the development or operation of HS1’


Established as an independent company and registered as a charity in 1995 – launched 1999 – closed 2009

Between 1999 - 2008 – total grants awarded of £1.75m with a gearing of nearly 4 on the initial investment.

In 2008, £155k committed on 25 projects with a project value of £309k excluding volunteer costs. Grants typically used for project development, match funding and small scale projects.


Unique fund and management process

Pro-active and reactive – made excellent use of existing networks, working with other agencies, local communities, private landowners and schools

Provided opportunity for environmental enhancement within the vicinity of HS1 - focus on local groups benefitting with funding geared to locally generated projects


Provided range of support – financial, intellectual, co-ordinating and match making, putting similar projects in contact with each other, and working with other funding bodies, targeting projects for grant aid and match funding


To avoid liabilities for participating parties, RLCI was constituted as a company limited by guarantee with a 2-tier governing structure - • The Company with a Director from URL and a Director from

each of the participating organisations – minimum of 4 and max of 6 with the opportunity to co-opt Directors from outside of partner organisations (HAD 4)

• A Policy Advisory Group (PAG) with representatives of all participating organisations (Steering Group)

• Executive Committee from PAG members – day to day and delegated powers to decide range of grant applications


• Initiative administered by Board of Trustees with advice from the Steering Group represented by Union Railways, Kent CC, Wildlife Trusts, English Nature, Environment Agency, English Heritage, LB Thurrock and Countryside Commission and Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group

• Director - based at Gravesham BC


Wildlife Gardens (£6k)

Enhancement of SAC (£5k)

Hedgerow Creation

(£500)

Site enhancement

Heaths Corridor (£17k)

Interpretation plans for Country

Park (18k)

Toad Conservation

Project (£11k)

Multi-user access trail

(£5k)

Survey for enhancement work (£800)

New landscape and wildlife corridor - Maidenlane(£5k)

Pond restoration

(£3k)

Lime Kiln Access – signs

(£2k)

Heritage Art Project £5k)

Cherry Downs Access (£3k)

Green Activity Programme

(£2k)

Wildlife & Landscape Enhancement Project –

Quarrington Farm (£12k)


Ashenbank Wood Ride

Widening (£3k)

Highfield Conservation

£5k

Improved playing field

(£2k)

Bowley Farm Mill Pond Restoration –

dredging and clearance £35k

Improvements to Thames Chase

Community Forest

2000 trees Heath Farm

Shorne Wood Visitor Centre

Singleton Environment

Centre

Kent AONB – improved

access

Re-location of listed Victorian

gothic water tower as part of a £900k

project

Rainham Marshes RSPB nature reserve

Cobham Ashenbank Management Scheme

A 5 year countryside management scheme to provide compensatory measures for the effects of HS1 on historic Cobham Park.

Involved 2 local councils, English Heritage, Natural England, National Trust, Cobham Hall, Woodland Trust and Union Railways

Key objective was the restoration and management of Darnley Mausoleum and historic Cobham Park

£150k pa – 1997 -2001 Had same Director as RLCI Seed funding for heritage

project £750k which levered in £10m of funding for restoration of Cobham Park – buildings, access and woodland enhancement

Legacy of another kind What I might do differently …

• Seek dispensation from Highway Design Code for the realignment of rural lanes

Legacy of another kind …..

A home for heritage finds

Legacy of another kind what I might do differently …..

• Long term safeguarding & de-designation of lost assets

• Awareness of gantries much earlier in the process

• Impact upon highways – physical and ££

• Seek commitment for long term monitoring of environmental effects

• Planting – drainage implications and aftercare arrangements

• Procedure for temporary road closures – financial penalties?

• Tourism potential and design

Final Thoughts

Strength in shared views

Take full advantage of chance to influence project in early phases. Post Act influence is much more limited and akin to reserved matters on a planning application

Deemed consents

Final Thoughts

• Be mindful of changes to the scheme – particularly those as detailed design emerges

• Parliamentary Undertakings and Assurances are not the same

• Use technical experts that can communicate in simple language

• Think early about construction routes

• Effective community liaison

• Staff continuity if possible – work together to achieve common objectives

• Balance gain vs. pain

• Pick your battles carefully

• 1996 Act never dies

….Plan for the Long Haul

HS1 first raised by BRB in 1988

House of Commons

1993/4

House of Lords 1996

Royal Assent December 1996

Section 1 opens 2003

Section 2 opens 2007

Still dealing with Heritage

aspects in 2012

And Last but not Least ….

Think creatively – usually more than one way to solve a problem

Be brave and a little bit cheeky

Good Luck

Thank [email protected]

01622 696052

mailto:[email protected]

Documents

HS1 – Kent’s Experience Legacy not Liability