Comprehensive planning of rail and community opportunities to achieve maximum benefit

The London Borough of Hackney commissioned Matrix Partnership to undertake the two-part Dalston Community and Creative Quarter study.  Its aim was to explore the regeneration value of several council-owned sites in the centre of Dalston in association with the planned Chelsea Hackney Crossrail project the route of which was planned directly beneath the locality.

 

Proposals for the new Chelsea Hackney Crossrail route had placed constraints on the study area, and ‘Areas of Safeguarding’ had been identified in the areas immediately above and around the new railway.

 

Significantly, in this locality a new underground station was planned in association with the existing above-ground Dalston Junction station nearby.  Initial proposals for the new route and station were open to examination and study by Matrix Partnership working with Arup on technical engineering matters, and as a result of this process several beneficial modifications became possible.

 

Despite the several constraints that existed in the form of underground sewers, piles beneath existing structures etc., it was possible to make the following changes to the initial proposals:

 

Reconfiguration of the proposed station interchange, including the relocation of escalators, that allowed better use of space and connections to the existing London Overground station.

Moving platforms 130m eastwards to provide better passenger access, avoiding end loading.

 

Relocation of the eastern ventilator and emergency access shaft to a less obtrusive location that also avoided the demolition of existing properties.

 

Notably, to the benefit of the community aims of the project, the reconfiguration of the station below ground allowed better pedestrian access and avoided demolitions in the local Conservation Area, including Listed Buildings.