Leaving a lasting legacy for London communities

Improving the lives of those who live in the communities in which we operate is a key priority for us and one we take very seriously. Since the beginning of the London Power Tunnels (LPT) project in 2011, Costain, in joint venture with Skanska, has been involved with the local communities across the capital in a variety of ways including volunteering, donating and educating.

Keeping the communities active

Throughout the project partnership links were established with the Tottenham Hotspur foundation and Arsenal Football Club to support local schools, charities and communities in a project called 'ENERGISE'. This partnership enabled local schools, charities and community groups to apply for staffing support supplied by Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal to create sport and physical activity projects. In the year that also saw the Olympic and Paralympic games come to London and many financial changes to local sports provision, LPT supported North London to create a sporting legacy.

Inspiring the next generation

The team also operated an Energy Education Centre in Willesden, a free facility to help young people understand energy and to strengthen their interest in science. The project partnered with City Year, a charity that runs School Power sessions to engage schoolchildren in STEM subjects, the project has hosted over 10,000 pupils at its Energy Education Centre.  

Creating a much-loved centrepiece

The project also undertook volunteering with local groups including London Wildlife Trust, Brompton Cemetery, Friends of Kensal Green Cemetery, and Bramford Community Garden.

As part of its ongoing community outreach programme, the project, helped transform a disused car park in Hackney into a much-loved centerpiece for the local community.

During Costain’s Wildlife Week, an annual campaign to raise awareness and do something positive for the environment, we took the opportunity to launch this volunteering project to create a pocket-size wildlife garden. This resulted in CSJV donating £3000 and over 450 volunteering hours with the help of its subcontractors Fannerys, Kilnbridge, Swords, Southgate and J O’Doherty.

The “garden in a car park” is now home to an insect hotel, a recreational seating area, 20 grow tubs - some of which are decorated with fantastic designs from the local primary school and a living wall to act as a climbing frame for hops and other plants. The garden has been given back to Daubeney Fields Forever, a local charity that aims to improve the neighbourhood. The local school shall also participate in the long term management of the park, using the area for science classes, etc.

“Being a part of this project, and seeing the positive impact it has had on the community, has been extremely rewarding for all of those involved. The garden has become a much-loved addition to the local community and I would like to thank National Grid and Costain-Skanska for their continued support in creating a park that will continue to serve the community for years to come.”

In addition to the site having attracted a rich variety of wildlife, it has also grabbed attention from further afield and has been included in the Clapton Park Green Day, which is part of the annual “Chelsea Fringe” community gardening festival. The wildlife park was awarded National Grid’s Enhancing Ecosystems 2015 Best Pocket Park and is also featured in a Pocket Park exhibition at City Hall.