The first of five headhouses that will provide ventilation and emergency access to HS2’s ten-mile long Chiltern tunnel has gained planning approval from Buckinghamshire Council.
The Chalfont St Peter headhouse is designed to fit into the surrounding landscape and takes its inspiration from the style of nearby barns and other agricultural buildings.
Set back from the road, the single-story building will be wrapped in a simple grey zinc roof with doors and vent openings picked out in a dark bronze colour to provide contrast. The pre-weathered grey zinc roof will age naturally over time, without loss of robustness or quality, while the whole structure will sit on a simple dark blue brick base.
Below ground level, a 78 metre ventilation shaft will reach down to the twin tunnels below, with fans and other equipment designed to regulate air quality and temperature, remove smoke in the event of a fire and provide access for the emergency services.
HS2 engaged with the Chilterns AONB Review Group and Buckinghamshire Council during the development of the designs and held a series of public engagement events to gather views from the local community.
Mature trees along the existing boundary will be retained as far as possible and once construction is complete the whole site will be landscaped with new trees and hedgerows planted to help screen the site from neighbouring properties.
Within the site boundaries, species-rich grassland habitats will be created, designed to further blend the site into the surrounding Chiltern hills. Material excavated from the shaft will be used to create much of the landscaping and avoid putting extra lorries onto local roads.
The design is very similar to the vent proposed for Little Missenden
