Greener stations
We're committed to reducing our environmental impact throughout the infrastructure that we own and operate. For our stations and major investment programmes, this can mean looking for opportunities to reduce waste, increase renewable energy supply, use more sustainable materials, minimise water consumption and find greener ways to transport construction materials to and from site.
Reducing our carbon footprint at King’s Cross station
King’s Cross station in central London was designed by Lewis Cubitt and built in 1851 on the site of a smallpox hospital. It is now both a Grade I listed building and a busy transport interchange with around 120,000 passengers passing through every day. A major renovation programme is underway to update the station for the 21st century and to meet growing passenger demand.
To help us meet the Mayor of London’s energy strategy requirements. We will supply 10 per cent of the refurbished station’s energy demand from renewable energy sources. We chose photovoltaic cells which use semi-conductor technology to convert sunlight into electrical energy as the best renewable energy option for the aesthetics and structure of this famous building. We believe we have integrated contemporary engineering and celebrated architecture in a way which Cubitt himself would have approved of. You can read more about renewable energy use at Kings Cross station in our related case studies.
Reducing waste at Blackfriars station
We're developing Blackfriars station, one of the major central London interchanges, as part of the Thameslink programme. The redevelopment will generate around 60,000 tonnes of construction, demolition and excavation waste. Despite significant space, height and access constraints, we have committed to:
- Recovering over 90 per cent of the demolition and excavation waste generated by the project and, from March 2010, also 90 per cent of the construction waste
- Achieving a CEEQUAL ‘Excellent’ rating for the station and bridge redevelopment. CEEQUAL is an assessment and awards scheme for improving sustainability in civil engineering.