Mitigating and Monitoring impact of Crossrail

The Environmental Statement (ES) deposited with the Crossrail Bill identifies the likely significant effects that will arise from the construction and operation of Crossrail, and identifies the range of mitigation measures that could be used to reduce or eliminate these effects. It serves as the Environmental Impact Assessment of the project and has been updated through the passage of the Bill in the Houses of Parliaments. The Crossrail Act made provisions that all applications cannot exceed the impacts assessed by the ES. It is the intention of the Secretary of State to carry out the project so that its impacts are as assessed in the ES.

The Construction Code, which forms part of the Environmental Minimum Requirements (EMR), was developed in negotiation with the local authorities and represents the best available practice and standards for major construction works. The Construction Code sets out the series of objectives and measures to be applied generally throughout the construction period to maintain satisfactory levels of environmental protection and limit disturbance from construction activities. Nominated Undertakers and their contractors are contractually bound to comply with the controls set out in the EMR.

The controls contained in the EMR along with powers contained in the Act and the Undertakings given by the Secretary of State will ensure that impacts which have been assessed in the ES will not be exceeded, unless any new impact or impacts in excess of those assessed in the ES.

If the significant adverse impacts identified in the ES are likely to be exceeded, the nominated undertaker will be required take all reasonable steps to demonstrate how they aim to minimise or eliminate those additional impacts.

CRL have given assurance that they will voluntarily prepare and submit a further environmental statement for the purpose of the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2008 in assessing the additional new significant impacts that go beyond the scope of ES deposited with the Bill for Crossrail Act.

If the City Council were to become aware of breaches of the EMR they will notify the Secretary of State of the breach and invite him to take action. The Secretary of State would be answerable to Parliament in the event of a sustained breach in relation to which he failed to take any action. The Secretary of State will take appropriate action if breaches of the EMR are brought to his attention.

Impacts of the Crossrail works will be carefully monitored and controlled by the use of the adopted Construction Code and the EMR which are contractually binding on the Nominated Undertakers and their contractors under the Act. Officers will be closely monitoring these requirements to ensure that the Nominated Undertakers and their contractors comply with the Construction Code and the EMR.