Crossrail has announced that shaft construction works and demolition of properties in Hanbury Street are no longer necessary.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has welcomed news that Crossrail has reached agreement with the London Fire Brigade (LFB) to remove eight of the proposed permanent access and ventilation shafts from the central tunnelled section of the new railway.

This decision will particularly benefit communities in east London where four of the permanent shafts were due to be located. The removal of the shafts means the elimination of construction works impacts, including lorry journeys, in these areas. In addition, a number of properties in Hanbury Street in east London will no longer need to be compulsorily purchased and demolished.

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The eight shafts no longer required are located at: Westbourne Bridge W2, Hyde Park W2, Park Lane W1, Hanbury Street E1, Lowell Street E14, Hertsmere Road E14, Blackwall Way E14 and Warren Lane SE18.

These permanent access and ventilation shafts would typically be around 9 metres in diameter, with a structure on top the size of a one- or two-storey building.

Mr Johnson, said: "The construction of Crossrail is a truly herculean endeavour and while work takes place it is so important that we continually consider how to keep any disruption to the absolute minimum. This will be the largest infrastructure project in Europe and when complete Londoners will be able to zip between the east and west of the city in record times. We know it will be fantastic and I know Londoners will show great patience while construction takes place. But the decision to remove these shafts from the building plans will be most welcome for communities that would have been affected."

(CD/JM)