TfL and Quintain call for mitigations if increased 'Large Events' at Wembley Stadium approved. Chiltern Railways still short of rolling stock

 Transport for London, in response the the Wembley National Stadium Ltd (WNSL) planning application for an increased number of 'Large Events' at Wembley Stadium and an increase in the crowd threshold, seek mitigations if the application is to approved. Quintain Ltd make representations on behalf of residents on their estate and (perhaps) those further afield.

Given recent coverage on Wembley Matters of public transport difficulties that TfL make it clear that they do not agree with WSNL's claim that eight additional major events will have a 'neglible' impact on the underground and say that this also applies to non-major events.

Unfortunately TfL do not go into detail on the impact on local bus routes but Quintain Ltd call for mitigation of the impact of additional events on bus travel.

Quintain's mosr signifcant demand is:

 To ensure residents' amenity is adequately protected, WNSL should commit to the following restrictions on events:

? a cap on the maximum number of consecutive non -sporting events;
? a cap on the maximum number of non-sporting events per week; and
? a cap on the maximum number of weeks in any calendar year where the maximum number of consecutive non -sporting events or maximum number of non-sporting  events in a week can be held.

The restrictions would go some way to addressing residents' concerns about the impact of events.

Quintain call for WNSL to be responsible for all additional operational and maintenance costs associated with the additional number of events.

TRANSPORT FOR LONDON

Main points highlighted:

Thank you for consulting Transport for London ('TfL') on the above planning application.

For context, TfL is the strategic highway authority in respect of Greater London Authority roads and strategic public transportation provider including London Underground Services, London Overground services, as well as buses.

To summarise, the application proposes a significant increase in events:8 additional major events at the Stadium, not including European and  World Cup events where England/UK is a host nation, to a total of 54 major events per year ii) events which are currently major events (spectator  capacity figure between 51,000 and 59,999) but proposed not to be covered as major events pursuant to this planning application.

TfL is not objecting to the proposals, strictly subject to the local planning authority appropriately securing the necessary transport mitigation  measures set out below:

1. The submitted assessment states that the impact of additional eight major events will have a negligible impact on underground  services. The same conclusion is also reached for non major events. This conclusion is not agreed with. It is essential that all the  necessary mitigation is in place to address the additional pressure that these events put on the TfL public transport network and  associated infrastructure, operational staff and passengers. We note that Chiltern Railways, carrying 8-12 percent of customers to  Wembley events, are currently objecting to the proposals as they do not have sufficient rolling stock and staff to support the proposed  additional major events at Wembley, placing further strain on TfL services.

2. Event days require extra staff at each station, who need to be redeployed from elsewhere. It is also useful to note that the number of  large-scale events happening simultaneously across London has increased, placing further pressure on TfL's resources. TfL request
funding for additional FTEs at Wembley Park Station is secured through the appropriate legal mechanism.

3. Consideration will also need to be given to the non-staff costs accrued by TfL during events. We are happy to meet to discuss the exact  requirement based on more detailed discussion with the applicant. Further information on the queries raised at Point 6 would be
beneficial to inform these further discussions.

4. We also note that Wembley has around 8,000 staff working at the stadium during event days, with a significant proportion of these staff  using Wembley Park Station to get home at night. The Station is having to keep staff on later to account for this, and with the increased
event numbers (including the number of non-major events) this will increase. This will need to be factored into the additional mitigation  measures required.

5. An increase in events will also place additional pressure on the rail infrastructure. TfL will need further details to understand any  potential impact on our rail maintenance due to the proposed increase in events.

6. Please could further information be provided on the following: 

a. What days the additional events are planned to be held? It is important to highlight that the night-tube is only available at the weekend (Friday/Saturday). 

b. It is noted that the applicant has indicated that they are looking for an increase in the number of attendees which  is classed as a non-major event. Please could further detail for this increase be provided including assessment  and justification/rationale in transport terms and demonstrating that no adverse transport effects are likely.

c. It has been indicated that the impact of the proposal on rail and London Underground links has been undertaken  using Steer's demand forecasting model. Further information should be provided on this model, including whether  it includes any outputs from TfL's models and takes into account the growth within the Wembley area.

7. Please note that TfL would not be supportive of any events finishing after 23:00 Monday-Saturday or 22:00 on Sunday. After this time,  services run down quicker, and finish earlier, which will significantly impact on the ability to clear late night crowds.

8. It is noted that the applicant has stated that the effect on bus routes is considered to be negligible. This is not accepted. Could further  information be provided on how this has been determined.

9. It is expected that TfL are consulted through the monthly Wembley Stadium Transport Operations Group Meeting (WSTOG).

TfL colleagues are open to meet to discuss this application and the above comments in more detail.

To conclude, TfL is not objecting in principle to additional events and subject to the applicant providing further information, to the proposed  increased major event cap at the stadium. It is, however, key that additional mitigation necessary to address the additional pressures these  events will have on the public transport network, operational staff and visitors is secured through the appropriate legal mechanism. Further  discussion with TfL on the necessary mitigation measures as set out above is essential prior to the determination of this planning application.

 

 

QUINTAIN LTD

 

24/1329: Variation of Condition 1 (Event Cap) and Condition 2 (Temporary Traffic Management) of  Permission reference 20/4197 to allow for 8 additional major stadium events per event calendar  year.

Thank you for consulting Quintain on the application submitted by Lichfields, on behalf of Wembley  National Stadium Ltd (WNSL), which, inter alia, seeks to vary Condition 1 of the Wembley Stadium  planning permission (ref. 20/4197) to increase the number of major stadium events that can take place during a calendar year from 46 to 54 events.

Quintain is the largest landowner and developer in Wembley Park, owning approximately 35  hectares of land around Wembley Stadium. Through our close working relationship with Brent  Council, and other key stakeholders including WNSL, we have led the successful regeneration of  Wembley Park over the past 20 years delivering 6,000 new homes, retail and commercial floorspace and significant public realm improvements. The improvements delivered include the transformation of Olympic Way with new hard and soft landscaping, lighting and security infrastructure together with the demolition of the Pedway and construction of the new Olympic Steps . These improvements, coupled with the creation of significant new parking facilities, have greatly enhanced  both the everyday and event day experience of visitors to Wembley and helped Wembley Stadium  maintain its standing as London's premier sporting and music venue.

In view of our long-term working relationship with WNSL and Brent, which ensures the impacts of  major stadium events are managed and mitigated, Quintain supports the proposed increase from 46 to 54 major stadium events in a calendar year, subject to the below conditions being formally secured, should the application be approved :

1. The character and land uses around Wembley Park have changed significantly since the
Stadium opened in 2007 and it is important that WNSL continue s to recognise that their
events have an impact on the daily lives of residents and business, and they should be
seeking to mitigate these as part of this application.

From reviewing the representations submitted by local residents, it is clear that event day
management, and in particular stewarding and post-event cleaning, are areas of significant
concern. Therefore, WNSL should commit to paying all the operational and management
costs associated with the additional events and/or any event that exceeds the existing caps
of 22 sporting events and 24 non -sporting events in a calendar year.

WNSL have highlighted the success of the triparty 'Best in Class' initiative between WNSL,
Quintain and Brent, which currently manages the impacts of event days upon the local area
and state this will be implemented for the additional events . Whilst we agree that the 'Best
in Class' principles covering stewarding, parking enforcement, traffic management, toilets
and street cleaning should apply to the additional events, the increased costs associated with
delivering these should be borne wholly by WNSL.

2. To ensure residents' amenity is adequately protected, WNSL should commit to the following restrictions on events:
? a cap on the maximum number of consecutive non -sporting events;
? a cap on the maximum number of non-sporting events per week; and
? a cap on the maximum number of weeks in any calendar year where the maximum
number of consecutive non -sporting events or maximum number of non-sporting
events in a week can be held.

The above conditions should be included in the S106 Agreement (Deed of Variation ) that WNSL indicate they are discussing with Brent Council (Page 29, Lichfields ' Planning Statement, 15 May 2024). As a participant in the Best in Class initiative, and owner of land within the planning application boundary where many of these measures will take place, Quintain would expect to be consulted on the Deed of Variation before it is completed.

Finally, in addition to the above, we would also request that WNSL , TfL and Brent work closely on mitigating the impact Stadium events have upon existing bus routes and services to ensure residents  are able to carry on their daily lives and move around the area on event days with the minimum of disruption.

We request that the Council keep Quintain informed on the progress of the application as it moves towards determination . Should the above conditions not be secured, Quintain reserve the right to make further representations on the application as appropriate.

 

CHILTERN RAILWAYS

 

On behalf of Chiltern Railways, who operate services to London, Birmingham and Oxford via Wembley Stadium station we wanted to put on record our comments on the application for up to 8 additional events to be held at Wembley Stadium each year.

Leisure travel is an increasingly important and significant area of travel demand on our routes. As the key mainline rail operator serving and operating Wembley Stadium Station, we carry between 8 and 12% of customer flows for Wembley events including major football fixtures and summer concerts.

Chiltern Railways have a constructive and ongoing dialogue with the FA and Wembley National Stadium Limited (WNSL) as the stadium operator, with an established and effective working relationship which supports the transport planning for major events. We were especially pleased to receive the feedback from both UEFA and The Football Association for our recent management of the Champions League Final which included additional services, a charter service for UEFA dignitaries and enhanced arrangements for spectators who required special assistance on their journeys to the stadium.

We recognise that the uplift in the event cap is necessary for commercial reasons, and that as a consequence the actual level of additional travel demand which may arise could be less than the revised event cap allows. We also recognise and are supportive of the positive impact that events at Wembley have on the local and wider economy.

However, Chiltern Railways does not currently have enough available rolling stock and associated colleagues to fully deliver the existing Wembley events programme and maintain our current published timetable. It is often necessary therefore for Chiltern Railways to remove services from other parts of our network to deliver enough capacity to safely serve Wembley Stadium. Recent examples include the Champions League Final on the 1 June 2024 and the League One Play Off Final on Saturday 18 May 2024. This results in an ongoing negative impact on Chiltern Railways reputation and impacts our regular customer and stakeholder relationships on other routes. We have also had to take the difficult decision not to serve Wembley events where they coincide with other events on the network which require additional rolling stock and colleagues, for example where engineering works close the West Coast Mainline and we are the only operator of services between Birmingham and London. It should, however, be noted that a number of recent events have taken place without additional Chiltern Railways services, and without significant disruption.

Chiltern Railways are working with the Department for Transport to acquire replacement and additional rolling stock for the Chiltern Mainline which would support the service delivery demands of additional Wembley events in the future, but in the meantime travel demand may need to be managed on an event-by-event basis.

If the event cap is extended by a further 8 events Chiltern Railways will continue to assess each event on an individual basis and collaborate with the stadium and other transport operators (including Transport for London) through our established channels and arrangements to support service delivery and accommodate the shared travel demands arising.

We will continue to work closely with the stadium operator as these plans are developed and delivered and welcome their support for our rolling stock proposals.