How we're delivering our environmental sustainability strategy

Our ambition is to deliver a railway that supports a thriving and diverse natural environment through ensuring the maintenance of healthy ecosystems (wildlife, habitats, soil, land and water resources). 

To support this aim, we have four strategic objectives for the natural environment: 

• Deliver a biodiversity net gain legacy ensuring it is lasting and resilient to future pressures. 

• Create, enhance and restore habitats to benefit ecological connectivity and create connected green networks. 

• Protect and enhance the function of the water environment. 

• Protect the function of soils and agricultural resources. 


How are we delivering on it? 

Our colleagues at the East West Rail Alliance have created new habitats during construction of the section between Bicester and Bletchley (Watch video), including: 

• Constructing 27 badger setts, all of which have been occupied by badgers, with 22% used for breeding. 

• Building a bat house, already being used by roosting bats. 

• Feeding and commuting bats, representing at least seven different species, are using our compensation sites. 

• Creating ponds for great crested newts, all of which have confirmed presence of newts. 

• Building two artificial otter holts, one of which is used regularly by otters. 


Here at EWR Co, we are:

• Mapping locations of protected and designated sites to inform proposals.   

• Avoiding directly impacting important environmental and heritage sites in the area, where we reasonably can.   

• Surveying for protected species to avoid and protect their habitats whilst identifying mitigation and compensation where necessary.  

• Undertaking detailed ecological surveys (delivered by EWR Co and EWR Alliance) - with over 12,000 since 2018. 

• Assessing the environmental impacts on important areas like farmland. 

• Avoiding the highest-grade agricultural land, where we reasonably can.  

• Exploring ways to reduce the impact of the railway on agricultural practices and soil resources. 

• Liaising with landowners to inform the design process.
   
  

We also plan to: 


• Mitigate impact through water storage (flood management) and retention ponds. 

• Avoid pollution through groundwater and surface water management. 

 

 

Our ambition is to deliver a railway that enables operational net zero carbon by 2050 through robust carbon management during design and construction, delivering sustained reductions in whole life carbon emissions. 

To support this aim we have four strategic objectives for carbon: 

• Enable net zero carbon emissions from passenger services by 2050. 

• Enable zero emission door to door journeys. 

• Deliver a railway which reduces whole life carbon emissions in line with the UK net zero carbon trajectory. 

• Deliver new depots and stations capable of being net zero carbon from day one of operations. 


How are we delivering on it? 

• Work is underway to define our Net Zero Carbon target & and our trajectory to achieve Net Zero Carbon. 
  

• We're aligned with The Construction Leadership Council’s Five Client Carbon Commitments.
  

• Our preference is for green traction power in the form of discontinuous electrification with hybrid battery-electric trains. As well as reducing carbon emissions, discontinuous electrification would mean overhead lines would only need to be installed along some sections of the route, which would reduce disruption to existing structures and potentially reduce visual impacts in more sensitive locations on the new railway between Bedford and Cambridge. This option would also cost less than full electrification and would need less land for things such as mast foundations.

Our ambition is to deliver a railway that is prepared for a changing climate by ensuring our design, construction and operation is resilient in the long term. 

To support this aim we have two strategic objectives for climate resilience: 

• Deliver a railway whose operation is resilient to future climate. 

• Deliver environmental mitigation that is resilient to future climate and contributes to wider climate resilience. 

How are we delivering on it? 

• Designing climate resilient assets.  

• Throughout the project we’ll carry out flood risk assessments to help inform the design process.

Our ambition is to keep people at the heart of the delivery of EWR in providing a means for communities to engage with their history and present their own stories throughout the design and delivery of the Project. 

To support this aim we have two strategic objectives for historic environment and landscape: 

• Sensitive integration of the Project with the existing local landscape character, visual context and historic places. 

• Connect local communities and users of the railway with the local history. 


How are we delivering on it? 

• We’re carefully considering how what we build can be designed to blend in with your local environment, and there are a number of ways we can look to do this. For example, by utilising landscape earthworks to soften the appearance of embankments and integrate it into the wider landscape context or by using sensitive placement of appropriate planting to either screen views from sensitive receptors, or to soften the appearance and presence of engineering earthworks. 

• Developing designs that respond to the surrounding landscape, protects views and celebrates our heritage
  through sensitive integration into the existing landscape, valuing our historic environment.

Our ambition is to deliver a railway that supports a circular economy through maximising the value of materials and designing out waste.  

To support this aim we have four strategic objectives for circular economy: 

• Adopt circular economy practices to maximise the value of materials. 

• Embed the efficient use of resources in project delivery. 

• Procure and use responsibly sourced construction materials.
  
  
• Sustainably manage waste produced throughout the Project. 
  


How are we delivering on it? 

• Using circular economy principles throughout planning and construction. 

• Addressing the sustainability of construction products and processes to preserve resources and minimise impact. 

• Promoting the durability and adaptability of built assets. 

Our ambition is to deliver a railway that protects the health and wellbeing of our communities, customers and colleagues through managing impacts and providing opportunities for cycling, walking and the use of open space. 

To support this aim we have three strategic objectives for people and community: 

• Maintain pre-existing operational noise levels in Noise Important Areas. 

• Protect local air quality. 

• Improve access to open spaces, National Trails and Public Rights of Way. 

 

How are delivering on it?  

• Working closely with communities and their representatives to keep them informed about the project. 

• Developing a Code of Construction Practice for the Project, which will explain the steps we will take to eliminate, minimise or mitigate disruption to local people, communities and the environment.  

• Facilitating enhanced infrastructure for local communities including new and upgraded footpaths, cycle paths and bridleways. 

• Working closely with communities and their representatives to keep them informed about the project.