Gidea Park Drivers’ and Cleaners’ Accommodation

About the project

With the Crossrail project creating significant new infrastructure through central London, additional accommodation units were needed to support drivers, their managers and cleaners along the line of route. Gidea Park in East London was identified as one of the locations for this additional accommodation. Enable Infrastructure (formerly BCM Construction) were contracted to undertake these works on vacant land at the Gidea Park Depot site. Nearby Gidea Park station is on the Great Eastern Main Line in the London Borough of Havering, East London. It is 13 miles (21.7 km) down the line from London Liverpool Street and is situated between Romford and Harold Wood. 

The project comprised three main elements: construction of a new modular building for drivers to be occupied by MTR Elizabeth Line (MTREL) staff; construction of a new modular building for cleaners to be occupied by Bombardier staff, and construction of a new access road, including parking and the provision of new utilities/services, from the existing site entrance off Cambridge Avenue. It also involved the provision of improvements to the surrounding area, including parking facilities, a bicycle shelter and EV charging points. Works included all the subsurface and surface infrastructure such as drainage, paving, external lighting and CCTV which has now been completed on time and under budget. 

“What sets Enable Infrastructure apart from other construction companies is their ability to be agile. On dynamic projects when you’re trying to provide a better service to the client, the ability to adapt and overcome is crucial and this is where they show why they can deliver to a demanding deadline on time.”
James Cook, Project Manager, MTR 

The programme involved the integration of all elements of the works, including civils, electrical, the modular buildings and utilities. The works were designed to take account of the latest design requirement for SUDS (sustainable drainage system) by using permeable surfacing, attenuation tanks, flow restrictors and dams to ensure that no surcharge is directly issued into adjacent watercourses. 

This project, with its combination of modern design requirements spanning areas from drainage to EV charging points, was successfully delivered and is intended to serve as a blueprint for similar works in the future.  

The challenge

• The confined nature of the site, where it was important to maintain 24-hour access for the neighbours. 
• Working in accordance with a previously agreed, third-party design. 

The solution

All the challenges were resolved through close collaboration between all parties. This effective stakeholder management involved regular meetings.  

The deliverables

The external works included the following: 

• Cutting back of vegetation, excavation to reduce levels 
• New permeable paving tarmac construction, new tarmac, precast concrete road kerbs and path edgings, white / yellow-lining  
• New topsoil beds (for future planting), shingle bed areas
• New foul drainage & surface water drainage 
• Vehicular & pedestrian entrance access gates with keypad entry 
• New CCTV installation, external lighting installation, Distribution Network Operator (DNO) power supply  
• New smoking shelter & cycle shelter.