Plans have been submitted that will see Bow Goods Yard in Stratford become “the belly of London”, with the creation of a major new rail hub capable of transporting up to 3.5 million tonnes of construction material to sites across the capital.
The Network Rail scheme will see the yard become London’s largest rail freight logistics hub, doubling both its concrete batching capacity and its aggregate storage – the latter rising to 30,000 tonnes.
Currently one of the capital’s largest strategic railheads, Bow Goods Yard is already a major supply point to the construction industry, delivering more than a million tonnes of concrete and aggregate a year plus thousands of concrete blocks while taking out over a million tonnes of construction spoil.
The proposals would maximise the capacity of the railhead, improving rail freight operations and providing a new centralised hub for the Network Rail Anglia route, as well as warehousing and workspaces.
The development is intended to help London transition to a greener freight future by taking up to 90,000 HGV movements a year from London’s roads, reducing congestion and emissions.
The 30-acre brownfield site is the final parcel of land to be unlocked as part of London’s 2012 Olympic and Paralympic legacy.
Its regeneration would provide up to 5,000 jobs, putting in place the “missing piece of the Olympics jigsaw” by delivering progressive employment opportunities, said National Rail.
The proposals also include the introduction of an integrated last mile logistics hub, leisure uses to complement existing facilities at the Olympic Park and up to 7,000 metres square of new public realm.
“This masterplan takes an ambitious approach to unlocking a challenging site and putting infrastructure at its heart,” said Network Rail group property director Robin Dobson.
“By reimaging the land-use, we are creating a state-of-the-art freight, warehousing and logistics campus that is vital to London.
“The scheme supports a more sustainable capital, with the new green spaces and leisure areas positively contributing to the local community now and for future generations.”
