'Infrastructure, energy and construction 2025' report part two
Image: onshore wind farm, courtesy Watkin Davis
Future Cities Forum's 'Infrastructure, energy and construction 2025' Report Part Two includes contributions from NESO, Grimshaw, Network Rail Property and TfL.
The discussion, which took place at DLA Piper LLP's London HQ in the City of London, focussed on best practice for the expansion of energy infrastructure, holistic plans for energy districts and hubs, re-purposing train stations and freight yards for enhanced public facilities and the building of new transport infrastructure under the Thames.
The UK government has introduced The Planning and Infrastructure Bill to Parliament this month (March 2025) which it says is central to its plan to get Britain building again and deliver economic growth. The first of its objectives - it states - is to deliver:
'a faster and more certain consenting process for critical infrastructure: A failure to build enough critical infrastructure, in particular Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs), is constraining economic growth and undermining our energy security. Upgrading the country’s major economic infrastructure – including our electricity networks and clean energy sources, roads, public transport links and water supplies – is essential to delivering basic services and growing the economy.
'The Bill will make it quicker and easier to deliver critical infrastructure projects including through streamlining NSIP consultation requirements, ensuring National Policy Statements are kept up to date, and reducing opportunities for judicial review. These changes will support the government’s Clean Power Action Plan by accelerating the planning process for energy infrastructure and ensuring local communities benefit through the creation of a bill discount scheme for people living closest to new electricity transmission infrastructure.'
Alice Etheridge, Head of Spatial Planning at NESO told the forum that its own strategic energy plan will help to target where energy infrastructure should be placed:
'NESO has been developing the first plan of its kind for the whole of the UK to expand offshore and onshore electricity, hydrogen and power storage. It is a picture that will be put out to try to share in advance plans to increase energy infrastructure. Historically, this has been very market led to deliver lots of generation and the network has not been in place. It has not been connected and has had high costs. Our strategic energy plan will set out what we need to do. Ofgem will hopefully be endorsing our processes.
'We shouldn't be doing this just from an economic perspective - and we are conscious that would mean too much of a focus on London and the South East - but also from the spatial perspective as well to understand the 'push and pull' factors, of where it is most appropriate to put new infrastructure. It is being done with understanding what the UK government intentions are and the energy plan is one element, but this is the first time this has been done on this scale. We can learn from what the water companies in this country have already achieved in terms of infrastructure, but also other countries' wind energy programmes. There has been a lot of engagement with our plans from traditional industry stakeholders but also the community.'
Alice was asked about the UK government's plans to cut down on community consultation. She responded:
'Our plan will help to smooth the path over this and importantly it will be helpful to get the views out there earlier of what is intended. Traditionally communities would only have heard about a new wind farm in their area at the planning stage. We cannot stand in every field, town or village hall for consultation, but we can focus on areas where there will be energy infrastructure for the first time and we can help with that visibility. Ultimately this will help with projects consenting because there will be a real need. It helps as a country to do this and prioritises where infrastructure should go. It will help focus on which areas are more suited and not just of the infrastructure itself.'
The National Energy System Operator (NESO) has confirmed this month (March 2025) the go live of the first two projects involved in its Stability Phase 2 Pathfinder to secure future network resilience.
The Stability Pathfinder Phase 2 is an initiative designed to enhance stability and reduce the operability risk of the electricity system, both in Scotland and across Great Britain. In total, NESO awarded ten contracts as part of this project (worth £323 million overall) to secure 11.55 GVA of Short Circuit Level (SCL) in Scotland and 6.75 GVA seconds of Inertia for Great Britain through the use of five synchronous condensers and five grid forming batteries.
NESO states:
'Grid Forming Batteries are an advanced battery storage system that can independently stabilise and support the electricity system. They set their own frequency and voltage, unlike traditional batteries. This world-leading capability enables us to integrate more renewable energy sources onto the system which can be less predictable than non-renewable energy sources. This will reduce carbon emissions by increasing the capacity of renewable energy generation.
'As part of the Stability Pathfinder Phase 2, these grid forming batteries and Synchronous Condensers will support the delivery of NESO’s 2025 ambition for zero carbon operation of Great Britain’s National Electricity Transmission Network. Announced in 2019 this ambition seeks to lay the foundation for the future operation of the electricity network by replacing the stability services offered by fossil fuel generation, to ensure that the national electricity network can be operated without relying on a single technology type. The delivery of the 2025 ambition will further future proof Great Britain’s national electricity network, already one of the most resilient in the world, whilst reducing the costs associated with delivering the inertia and other services needed to operate the network.
'Initially contracted as part of the pathfinder for ten years these new projects will provide access to these important stability services as carbon emitting power stations are phased out as part of the Government’s 2030 Clean Power Action Plan. From 2035 these projects will have the opportunity to participate in specific markets for stability services, introducing even greater competition and greater value for money for consumers.'
Grimshaw joined Future Cities Forum's debate and Principal, Anagha Mujundar-Potbhare, commented
'As an urbanist, I like to think about the overall intention of how and why we are expanding our energy infrastructure in the UK. The demands for more energy are huge, especially around AI and data centres. The need for power is big. There is also currently infrastructure that is unused. We need to look at this holistically. Where are people living and working and where are the urban centres that are already working? Investment shouldn't be everywhere but the inter-dependency of areas is important to think about and how they can be made to be more dynamic. There is a need for a national strategy and there does need to be consultation and not at the expense of the community. We need to make these successful clusters work harder, while trying to remove the element of competition. Clusters feed each other and can spread the benefits. There is a focus on London and the South East, but there doesn't have to be.'
Grimshaw has been working in the energy infrastructure area with GIGATONS, a technology and funding company, that recently led the deployment of GRIDSERVE’s EV charging infrastructure in the UK. Gigatons will work with Grimshaw to develop a suite of designs that can be deployed and integrated across different city locations and transport systems: passenger vehicles, taxis, buses, heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), marine, and aviation solutions. The solution promotes an approach that is inherently sustainable and composable, adopting modular principles, providing a distinct, recognisable seamless experience and identity for users.
The designs incorporate a system of expressed structural canopies which provide protection to charging bays and visual direction to users, as well as hosting high-performance PVs detailed to capture as much energy as possible, whatever the location. The efficiency of the form takes its cue from nature: branched glulam timber houses the technology and drainage in the trunk, supporting elements such as screens, lighting and audio.
This highly configurable kit of parts will enable offsite prefabrication and a systemised approach that reduces transportation demands, construction time and prolongs the built life. A digital twin to the solution will also enable configuration to rapidly assess sites and installation and predict demand and use, as well as monitor and evaluate energy and carbon management efficiently and in real time meeting ambitious targets in any city or region.
This work will also be part of GIGATONS’ contribution under its partnership with SAVI (Smart Autonomous Vehicle Industry), a cluster formed by Abu Dhabi Investment Officer (ADIO) in Masdar City, Abu Dhabi, to focus on smart e-mobility solutions across land, sea, and air.
Above: Anagha Mujumdar-Potbhare of Grimshaw (Courtesy Grimshaw)
Anagha also spoke in our infrastructure debate about the importance of rail infrastructure and unlocking opportunities:
'The East Midlands hub had so much potential for its immediate surrounding areas and it is unfortunate that it was stopped. This was an urban integration exercise that expanded ideas on what could have been achieved and amenities that could have been unlocked. East West Rail is not just connecting the big cities but also capturing small towns in between. Stations can be crossing over points. Our work on Cambridge showed that it is better to achieve a density that makes best use of land rather than creating sprawl. Our research on Oxford centred on looking at site opportunities across the city on a strategic level. There are many sites that are able to offer these opportunities for expansion and help with the housing crisis.'
Image: Bow Good Yards illustration, courtesy of Network Rail
Creating new opportunities out of older rail infrastructure was followed up in the debate by Ushma Samani, Real Estate Development Manager, Network Rail Property. She described the value of opening up Bow Goods Yard in London:
'This was a project that really took charge of the infrastructure challenge and enhanced Bow Goods Yard and made it fit for the future. It recycled cash into the project in order to accelerate the site. It sets a template for further projects elsewhere. Its been a great site for about 150 years but it came under increasing pressure due to the Olympics from 2012. Our site was the warm up running track and lots of housing popped up around it. We realised it was full of potential new uses. It had originally (been created) for freight transport connected by rail and road, mainly for major aggregates in the past, but now has a new focus because of a shift in the market towards last mile deliveries and other types of logistical transport that can be offered nationwide. The idea is to combine industrial and leisure. The site had never been open to the public and it was a barrier. It is an urban site that is very valuable to people and our process was heavily led though consultation with the community.'
Above: Ushma Samani of Network Rail Property (Courtesy Network Rail)
Network Rail Property has described the opportunity:
'An outline masterplan to regenerate over 30 acres of brownfield land at Bow Goods Yard, East London, into a rail freight campus and last mile logistics hub has been unanimously approved by the London Legacy Development Corporation.
'Bow Goods Yard is the final parcel of London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic legacy land to be unlocked and is Network Rail Property’s first independent planning submission.
'Under the industrial-led masterplan, up to 3 million sq ft of floorspace will be created, including heavy and light industrial space. Bow Goods Yard has the potential to deliver a new centralised hub for Network Rail, accelerating London’s transition to green freight future. Taking up to 90,000 HGV movements a year away from the national road network, the masterplan will cut congestion and emissions.
'Additionally, a range of leisure uses are proposed, with the flexibility for up to 350,000 sq ft destination leisure supported by 35,000 sq ft food and beverage alongside 55,000 sq ft of sports pitches to complement existing facilities on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
'Bow Goods Yard is vital to London’s construction sector, supplying over a million tonnes of aggregates annually. Rail freight contributes £2.5bn to the UK economy, and hubs such as Bow Goods Yard will be crucial to expanding sustainable freight as businesses switch to rail.
'The development improves rail freight capacity and efficiency by consolidating operations, enclosing and screening the concrete-batching facility, which enables an integrated last mile logistics hub to be brought forward, with the scheme creating up to 5,000 new jobs.
'Currently an isolated site, large parts are not accessible to the local community, and a series of green open spaces will be created, delivering 200,000 sq ft of new public open space. New public realm will improve the Greenway, creating new pedestrian and cycle routes alongside the introduction of 150 trees, green walls and green roofs.
Not all Victorian rail infrastructure upgrades or repurposing is easily agreed on. Network Rail Property has had to negotiate plans to upgrade Liverpool Street Station. Ushma commented:
'We have responded to objections with a new strategy. There were around 2,000 objections on heritage grounds, and we have now put forward the public benefits approach. We are looking at operational area requirements, not just at the station itself but as a new definition as an entrance to London and also connecting to Stansted. Our approach speaks to the language of what stations are. The shed over the rail tracks is Victorian but the concourse is more modern. We want to create spaces for people to wait for trains close to the ticket gates but we also have a mezzanine area which gives access onto the streets around and provides opportunities for people to convene. We want to increase capacity on the concourse area but also work with British Land on their estate (at Exchange Square and Broadgate) next to the station. Five per cent of all jobs in the UK are in the Square Mile and we want a plan projecting up to 2050 which takes that into account and serves commuters.'
Image: Upper concourse area of Liverpool Street Station illustration, courtesy of Network Rail Property
New infrastructure ensures transport connectivity improvements in the Capital, which the Government believes is vital for the economy but also for boosting house building programmes. The long-awaited Silver Town Tunnel will open this April and TfL describes the project:
'First announced in 2012, the 1.4km Silvertown Tunnel will link Newham to the Greenwich Peninsula and, supported by the new user charges, will make journeys faster and more reliable, with average journey time savings expected to be up to 20 minutes at peak times. The tunnel is also located in the Ultra Low Emission Zone and will also support economic growth and allow TfL to increase the number of buses able to cross the river in this area from six to 21 buses an hour in each direction during the busiest times - all of which will be zero emission at the tailpipe.
'To help manage traffic levels across the Silvertown and Blackwall tunnels, repay costs for building the new Silvertown Tunnel, and cover ongoing maintenance and operation costs at both tunnels, a user charge will be introduced on 7 April 2025. Without introducing this user charge at both tunnels, there would likely be high levels of traffic and congestion in the area, which would lead to detrimental air quality impacts, as well as longer journey times.'
David Rowe, Interim Director of Investment Delivery Planning, joined Future Cities Forum infrastructure discussion. David is responsible for championing the delivery and realisation of benefits and outcomes for TfL’s Investment Programme – sponsoring a range of complex programmes and projects across the TfL network. This includes Crossrail, major LU station upgrades, new and improved Surface assets and renewals, along programmes delivered under the Healthy Streets, Assets, Air Quality, Technology, and Public Transport portfolios.
Commenting on the Silvertown project, he said:
'Silvertown Tunnel opens 7th April but it has not been quick. We started in 2008 with a series of public consultations right through to 2015. TfL then decided to use the Development Consent Order process to secure planning. We followed that route partly as we needed the infrastructure consent but also the operational powers on charging users. The other attraction for us was that a DCO meant a fixed time table. But there were two delays in fact. We had to go back out to public consultation after re-assessments and then await the Secretary of State's decision. The process of development was very helpful in terms of getting the scheme right, but it wasn't helpful in providing confidence on timing and the model of delivery in conversations with our industry partners. We chose the PFI route. Once we had got to the point of signing the PFI agreement, despite Brexit , Covid and other headwinds it has largely stuck to the programme agreed upfront but there were uncertainties around the consent stage.'
David was asked if we are close to realising our ambitions around healthy streets and better air quality? He responded:
'I am very confident about our Healthy Streets Programme. The Silvertown Tunnel is the right solution but it is only part of the transport solutions in East London. There have been a series of improvements there, including the Elizabeth Line, the DLR upgrades and improvements to the Jubilee Line. Silvertown addresses the problems at Blackwall. The user charge means that we won't increase traffic. When we have surveyed local businesses over the last 20 years the number one issue cited has been lack of confidence in the Blackwall Tunnel (previously the only river tunnel crossing in the area), and that means they have not been confident of deliveries on time or staff arriving on time. The new crossing allows new bus services - currently there is only one single decker unreliable service through the Blackwall Tunnel. The new tunnel is transformational for both public transport and sustainable development.'
Below: construction work on the Silvertown Tunnel (courtesy Riverlinx Construction Joint Venture)
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