The spine connects UK’s existing ports and future rail networks © Foster + Partners
The Foster proposal is a master plan to radically overhaul Britain's transport, logistics and communication networks. The scheme would include a new flood barrier crossing the estuary, (to replace the existing thames barrier with a new crossing that will extend london's protection from floods into the 22nd century) a four-runway airport, a freight port and an Orbital Rail link around London connected to the north of Britain and Europe.
The new infrastructure vill be capable of handling 150 million passengers per year, allowing the UK to retain its global aviation hub status. The airport is integrated within a logistics matrix that connects the surrounding ports by rail. exploiting railway construction allows for the bundling of utilities into a single corridor delivering the world's first national smart distribution network. Improving the connectivity between the North and South of England will open new trade advancement for the UK to the Europe.
Lord Foster, founder and chairman of Foster + Partners, said.-
If we are to establish a modern transport and energy infrastructure in Britain for this century and beyond, we need to recapture the foresight and political courage of our 19th century forebears and draw on our traditions of engineering, design and landscape. If we don’t then we are denying future generations to come. We are rolling over and saying we are no longer competitive – and this is a competitive world. So I do not believe we have a choice.
