The Role of Town Planning in Major Infrastructure Projects

Summary

To deliver Thameslink Programme (TLP) it was necessary to secure a significant number of planning permissions and listed building consents across the network. These consents covered structures ranging from new stations at Blackfriars and London Bridge to a re-modelled listed station at Farringdon and a new viaduct through the historic Borough High Street Conservation Area. Wherever possible maximum use of railway Permitted Development Rights (PDR) were also employed to expedite the consents process.

The works covered some 60 local planning authority areas, including sensitive areas of central London, and regular liaison with Historic England. Obtaining planning permission and consents is a time consuming and unpredictable process, which can be a risk to programme delivery dates. Effective management of this process is critical to successful delivery. The importance of planning and consents was raised as part of the Hendy Review highlighting its criticality to enabling huge programmes of crucial economic impact to go forward to programme and cost.

The following case study captures the many lessons TLP learnt whilst navigating its way through the UK’s planning system.