City North

Handling third-party approvals from pre-planning to delivery

This project faced significant site constraints due to its proximity to important Network Rail assets, including an embankment and two London Underground lines with adjacent platform tunnels.

Before planning commenced, Walsh prepared the extensive ‘Approval in Principle’ documentation, commonly referred to as Form 1. We successfully addressed 118 comments from Network Rail to secure the necessary approvals, thus providing confidence to the project funders.

The development had a substantial interface with Finsbury Park station, which serves as an interchange between overground and underground rail services. The work involved removing old foot tunnels and an earth embankment, as well as creating a new station entrance and two new foot tunnel portals.

Walsh managed all required approvals with Network Rail and Transport for London (TfL) to facilitate the development, overseeing the major temporary works and construction sequences needed for smooth delivery.

Another major challenge was a significant sewer running through part of the site. Walsh devised an innovative solution to obtain buildover consent and a diversion agreement, allowing Thames Water access beneath the site without physically entering it.

The development utilised Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) to expedite the program and achieved a BREEAM rating of Very Good.