Ever wondered what the site is near heathrow next to M25

[andygo]

I have wondered a few times what the huge building site is near Heathrow on the inside of the M25. Turns out it's another blot on the landscape caused by the waste of resources that is the HS2 construction. Its labelled the Chilterns Tunnel South Portal, so presumably there is a north portal as well.

What an utter utter waste of money the HS2 is. I presume I'm the first to comment on the HS2 project?

[Murph7355]

HS2?

[Sebring440]

andygo said:

I presume I'm the first to comment on the HS2 project?

Yes, you're definitely the first to comment.

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Etc, etc, etc.

[aeropilot]

andygo said:

I have wondered a few times what the huge building site is near Heathrow on the inside of the M25. Turns out it's another blot on the landscape caused by the waste of resources that is the HS2 construction. Its labelled the Chilterns Tunnel South Portal, so presumably there is a north portal as well.

Its more than the south tunnel portal, as its the precast factory site for the massive precast bridge sections for the long viaduct running from the portal, east towards Ruislip over the valley, as well as for the precast ring segments for the tunnel going west under the Chilterns.

[aeropilot]

Sebring440 said:

andygo said:

I presume I'm the first to comment on the HS2 project?

Yes, you're definitely the first to comment.

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Etc, etc, etc.

[Biggy Stardust]

Murph7355 said:

HS2?

A rail project, sir.

[Silvanus]

Allegedly it is going to be transformed into a chalk grassland nature reserve once work at the site is complete. Have to wait and see if they do and how successful it is.

[andygo]

Silvanus said:

Allegedly it is going to be transformed into a chalk grassland nature reserve once work at the site is complete. Have to wait and see if they do and how successful it is.

Fair enough, wonder how long thats going to take to get established..

[Silvanus]

andygo said:

Silvanus said:

Allegedly it is going to be transformed into a chalk grassland nature reserve once work at the site is complete. Have to wait and see if they do and how successful it is.

Fair enough, wonder how long thats going to take to get established..

All depends how much work they do as part of the restoration. Some restoration project work well, others can be a bit half arsed. Thankfully nature soon takes over old industrial sites pretty quickly regardless.

[cookie1600]

andygo said:

Fair enough, wonder how long thats going to take to get established..

About 9 to 10 years, if this project is seen as comparable:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samphire_Hoe

[blueg33]

Op has clearly been living under a rock

[Solocle]

It's not like road projects don't create a massive scar on the landscape...

Honestly the bulk of HS2 that I've seen (Curzon St, right, is slightly more substantial) is pretty tame.

[aeropilot]

andygo said:

Silvanus said:

Allegedly it is going to be transformed into a chalk grassland nature reserve once work at the site is complete. Have to wait and see if they do and how successful it is.

Fair enough, wonder how long thats going to take to get established..

It could be returned to its previous farmland state in about 6-9 months.........if they were returning the land to the original owner.

The big works compound site next to the M4 near J10 which was built for the useless smart motorway works was returned back to its farmland within 6-9 months, and with sheep now grazing on the site, you'd now never know there had been a huge works site compound there 2 years ago.

However, making some poncy nature reserve out of the site could take a lot longer as I guess they have CP'd the land from the nearby farm and have chosen to turn it into a nature site instead.

[Silvanus]

aeropilot said:

andygo said:

Silvanus said:

Allegedly it is going to be transformed into a chalk grassland nature reserve once work at the site is complete. Have to wait and see if they do and how successful it is.

Fair enough, wonder how long thats going to take to get established..

It could be returned to its previous farmland state in about 6-9 months.........if they were returning the land to the original owner.

The big works compound site next to the M4 near J10 which was built for the useless smart motorway works was returned back to its farmland within 6-9 months, and with sheep now grazing on the site, you'd now never know there had been a huge works site compound there 2 years ago.

However, making some poncy nature reserve out of the site could take a lot longer as I guess they have CP'd the land from the nearby farm and have chosen to turn it into a nature site instead.

Why is creating a rare chalk grassland habitat 'poncy'? considering how much ecological damage HS2 has caused, nature needs all the help it can get. I'm sure the locals will be happy to have a little natural oasis nearby, far more bio-diverse than a sheep field. And before anyone says anything you can be a bit of a tree hugger and enjoy cars.

[aeropilot]

Silvanus said:

aeropilot said:

andygo said:

Silvanus said:

Allegedly it is going to be transformed into a chalk grassland nature reserve once work at the site is complete. Have to wait and see if they do and how successful it is.

Fair enough, wonder how long thats going to take to get established..

It could be returned to its previous farmland state in about 6-9 months.........if they were returning the land to the original owner.

The big works compound site next to the M4 near J10 which was built for the useless smart motorway works was returned back to its farmland within 6-9 months, and with sheep now grazing on the site, you'd now never know there had been a huge works site compound there 2 years ago.

However, making some poncy nature reserve out of the site could take a lot longer as I guess they have CP'd the land from the nearby farm and have chosen to turn it into a nature site instead.

Why is creating a rare chalk grassland habitat 'poncy'? considering how much ecological damage HS2 has caused, nature needs all the help it can get. I'm sure the locals will be happy to have a little natural oasis nearby, far more bio-diverse than a sheep field. And before anyone says anything you can be a bit of a tree hugger and enjoy cars.

A working farm to me is more important than a nature reserve.....and what locals?
Its in the middle of nowhere, and there's only about half a dozen houses nearby....and no footpaths to where this........unless they are going to build a car park so non-locals can drive there.....

[Murph7355]

Biggy Stardust said:

Murph7355 said:

HS2?

A rail project, sir.

[Silvanus]

aeropilot said:

Silvanus said:

aeropilot said:

andygo said:

Silvanus said:

Allegedly it is going to be transformed into a chalk grassland nature reserve once work at the site is complete. Have to wait and see if they do and how successful it is.

Fair enough, wonder how long thats going to take to get established..

It could be returned to its previous farmland state in about 6-9 months.........if they were returning the land to the original owner.

The big works compound site next to the M4 near J10 which was built for the useless smart motorway works was returned back to its farmland within 6-9 months, and with sheep now grazing on the site, you'd now never know there had been a huge works site compound there 2 years ago.

However, making some poncy nature reserve out of the site could take a lot longer as I guess they have CP'd the land from the nearby farm and have chosen to turn it into a nature site instead.

Why is creating a rare chalk grassland habitat 'poncy'? considering how much ecological damage HS2 has caused, nature needs all the help it can get. I'm sure the locals will be happy to have a little natural oasis nearby, far more bio-diverse than a sheep field. And before anyone says anything you can be a bit of a tree hugger and enjoy cars.

A working farm to me is more important than a nature reserve.....and what locals?
Its in the middle of nowhere, and there's only about half a dozen houses nearby....and no footpaths to where this........unless they are going to build a car park so non-locals can drive there.....

If there are no paths then it's even better for wildlife, excellent