St William: Lea Bridge Gasworks (Information Page)

Overview

This page offers an overview of the Environment Agency's responsibilities and role in the St William Homes LLP (St William) development project at Lea Bridge Gasworks. We will explain who we are, what we do, and provide information about the ongoing activities at Lea Bridge Gasworks.

Who are we?

We are the Environment Agency's Green Growth & Delivery team in Hertfordshire and North London (HNL). We are a statutory consultee and environmental regulator on the planning and construction by St William at Lea Bridge Gasworks. 

What are our roles and responsibilities? 

Our roles and responsibilities vary on a site-by-site basis, a few of these will be relevant to Lea Bridge Gasworks.

Groundwater and land quality, we may be involved in:

• reviewing groundwater risk assessments, groundwater monitoring, soil verification reports, site investigations, conceptual sites models, remedial strategies and options appraisals and foundation works risks assessments
• providing information for customers for Freedom of Information Requests (FOI)
• giving information and support on land quality and groundwater issues during unplanned events on Environmental Permitting Regulations (EPR) sites 
• reviewing Hydrogeological Risk Assessments (HRA) and Site Condition Reports (SCR)

Flood risk, we may be involved in:

• working in partnership to reduce the likelihood and consequences of flooding, protecting people and businesses
• reviewing site-specific flood risk assessments for all development proposals in flood zones 2 and 3, and those in flood zone 1, over 1 hectare in the area
• maintaining and improving main rivers, and responsibility to manage flood risk from main rivers and the sea
• ensuring development does not adversely affect our work in managing flooding, increase the risk of flooding or damage the environment
• reviewing Environmental Permitting Regulations (EPR) permit consultations for works within 8-m of a riverbank.

Materials and waste, we may be involved in:

• reviewing site specific information and advice on which environmental rules apply
• collaborating with Developers to help them understand how materials need to be managed, what controls are required, and how this is delivered safely and sustainably
• helping to identify if there are waste-related activities and provide advice on the permits and evidence needed to protect the environment
• connecting developers to our National Permitting Service (NPS) to either submit a formal application or to seek more guidance
• keeping developers informed about the progress of any permit applications
• assisting with local knowledge to ensure a developer's permit has the correct conditions
• helping our Regulated Industry department to check if a permit's conditions are met as part of their legal duties
• supporting developers to ensure responsibilities are met and encourage them to prove their activities have not harmed the environment once completed.

Air Quality

We do not:

• regulate air quality, smells, noise or visual pollution for individual planning developments, issues related to a planning application will fall under the remit of the Local Authority of Waltham Forest.

You can find Waltham Forest Council contact details by visiting: Contact Waltham Forest Council | London Borough of Waltham Forest

If you would like to learn more about what the Environment Agency, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and wider government are doing to address air pollution and air quality, please visit: 

Clean Air Strategy 2019 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)  

State of the environment - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Monitoring Networks - Defra, UK

About St William 

St William is part of Berkeley Homes. St William was set up as a joint venture with National Grid in 2014 to develop redundant gasworks sites into new residential neighbourhoods. In 2022 Berkeley Homes acquired National Grid’s interest in St William.

About Lea Bridge Gasworks 

Remediation work at Lea Bridge Gasworks is scheduled to commence in Q4 (October - December) 2024. The development by St William includes 573 residential units, 582m2 of flexible residential facilities, and commercial spaces.

The planned public spaces include:

• public open space
• public realm works and landscaping
• car and cycle parking; servicing arrangements
• sustainable energy measures
• formation of new pedestrian and cycle access onto Clementina Road
• formation of new pedestrian, cycle, and vehicular access onto Orient Way
• means of access and circulation within the site and site preparation works.

You can access more information about Lea Bridge Gasworks at: Lea Bridge Gasworks: Our Proposals 

For Lea Bridge Gasworks health and safety information visit: https://leabridgegasworks.co.uk/health-safety/