Proposed Thames Tunnel sites will not change, says Thames Water

The consultation report said that "no new information has been brought to our attention" in the recent consultation that would change the chosen selection for the proposed Thames Sewer sites.

The report (74-pages / 2.5MB PDF) outlines the Thames Water's responses to all the comments received during the 14 week consultation, which ran from 4 November 2011 to 10 February 2012.

Though Thames Water has not made any changes to the route and selected sites for the Tunnel it has pledged that it will continue to talk to local people to modify proposals and reduce impacts on surrounding communities where possible. The company has also increased its commitment to use the river for transporting materials during the construction phase of the project.

The phase two consultation on the 'supersewer' looked at the need for the project, the preferred tunnel route and the preferred sites for construction.

"Unfortunately, there are no easy or disruption-free options for building this much-needed piece of infrastructure, but we remain as determined as ever to reduce the impacts at the proposed sites as much as possible, whilst ensuring we deliver value for money," said Phil Stride, head of London tideway tunnels at Thames Water.

The Thames Tunnel is proposed to run from Acton in west London to Abbey Mills in Stratford in the east of the capital, where it will join up with the Lee Tunnel, already under construction, to transfer the overflows to Beckton Sewage Treatment Works for processing.

"The Thames Tunnel project is needed to help substantially reduce the amount of untreated sewage which enters the River Thames when the sewage system exceeds capacity," the consultation said. Currently Combined Sewer Overflow discharges occur once a week on average, when the capital’s Victorian sewer network fills to capacity, sometimes after as little as 2mm of rainfall.

A further round of consultations have been announced for new changes to plans at four proposed Thames Tunnel construction sites, which will begin on 6 June. The further consultation is required by the project's "Statement of Community Consultation", a legally requirement for Development Consent Orders under the Planning Act 2008.

Thames Water will consult on changes to the access road at Barn Elms and the Albert Embankment Foreshaw, a modified site location at Putney Embankment Foreshore and a new design for the permanent works at Victoria Embankment Foreshore.

Early in 2013, the company is scheduled to submit its finalised proposals for scrutiny by the Planning Inspectorate, established to review major projects of national significance. Main construction for the project is planned to begin in 2016.