A decision to reduce the size of HS2’s London terminus station at Euston means spoil will no longer be removed by rail and may have to be achieved with thousands of HGVs instead.
In a written statement by the parliamentary under-secretary for state, Baroness Vere, she said a smaller, 10 platform station design at Euston was prompted by the Oakervee Review, which addressed efficiency concerns.
She said: “Following the move to the more affordable 10 platform station design, the original plans for the removal of a proportion of construction spoil by rail are no longer possible.
“In response, HS2 Ltd has been working, in close liaison with colleagues from Network Rail, to consider alternative options for how to remove spoil from the construction of HS2’s Euston station and how it can minimise impacts.”
Camden Council has previously raised concerns about the number of lorry movements required to remove 1.2m tonnes of demolition, construction and waste material from Euston and its approach during the redevelopment works.
In a report, the council said: “The net effect is up to 800 daily two-way lorry movements in the Euston area during busiest times.
“90 per cent of those lorries will be heavy goods vehicles.”
The Department for Transport was approached for comment.
