The lock will open up the waterways which have lain largely unused since the 1960s. It will provide access for barges carrying construction traffic and recyclables between Stratford and the Thames, as well as leisure boats. The regeneration is expected to see water taxis, trip boats and floating restaurants turn this area into a true ‘Little Venice-East’.

Contractor Volker Stevin has already established a construction compound on Three Mills Green and begun cutting back trees and scrub along the waterside to prepare the site. They are also testing the ground conditions and clearing the area where a new 'fish pass' will be excavated. Piling work started in the week beginning 23 April.

Prescott Channel takes its name from a past chairman of the Lee Conservancy Board, which carried out the last major works to the waterways in the 1930s.

British Waterways announced the first stage of works at the end of February. The costs are to be met by BW, the Department for Transport, London Thames Gateway Development Corporation, the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) and Transport for London.

However, while fully supporting the new lock, Jack Faram of Transport on Water, who spent many years working barges on this section of the waterway, believes that commercial traffic could begin much sooner by using the existing channel through Bow Lock.

The new lock, which replaces a dismantled structure on the same site, is part of a programme for the sustainable restoration of the waterways in the Lower Lea Valley. The recommendation was developed by British Waterways, the Environment Agency and Natural England, together with a range of stakeholders. It promotes a ‘green corridor’ alongside the waterways, with towpaths, cycleways, wildlife habitats and restored waterways alongside new sustainable developments.

Construction of the new lock will be managed by British Waterways and undertaken by design and build contractors Volker Stevin Ltd, with a supporting team including Tony Gee & Partners LLP, Bennett Associates, Clague Architects and Weetwood Environmental Engineering. Works are due to be completed in summer 2008, ensuring that the lock is accessible for barge traffic by the start of the main Olympic construction period.

The Olympics Minister, Tessa Jowell MP said, ‘The restoration of the neglected waterways of the Lea Valley will be vital to achieving our commitment to make London 2012 environmentally sustainable. The new lock at Prescott Channel will make a significant contribution to the quality of life in the area as well as helping to deliver our aspiration to transport 50% of all construction material by weight to the Olympic site via rail or the waterways, considerably relieving congestion on the road network.’

John Dodwell, of Rolandon Water and Sea Freight Advisory Services added, ‘The decision will make a dramatic difference to a particularly congested part of London. It will mean taking off the roads more than 1.75m tons of aggregates and other construction materials destined for the Olympic site, and at 20 tons a load that’s a lot of lorries.’

The scheme has evolved through discussions with a broad range of public, private and voluntary sector organisations and is supported by: London Borough of Newham, Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, Port of London Authority, Leaside Regeneration, the Water City Group, Sea & Water, the Parliamentary Waterways Group, Inland Waterways Amenity Advisory Council, Inland Waterways Association, London Waterways Commission, National Association of Boat Owners, Association of Waterway Cruising Clubs, River Association for Freight, Freight Transport Association, Transport 2000, and others.

Detailed designs and studies have been undertaken by the project partners and a number of specialist advisors including: Peter Brett Associates, WS Atkins, Terry Farrell & Partners and Halcrow Engineering.

On announcing the start of the project, Tony Hales, chairman of British Waterways said, ‘This is a tremendously exciting project and one that BW is proud to be taking forward. What gives Prescott Lock particular poignancy is that it not only supports the sustainable regeneration of east London , but also enables the use of age old water transport to help solve 21st century environmental challenges.’

However, while welcoming the initiative John Dodwell added, ‘It’s ironic that news of the new lock, partly financed and facilitated by British Waterways, comes at a time when DEFRA’s cut in grants to British Waterways has resulted in them disbanding their central water freight promotion unit.’

A first step towards constructing the new lock, weirs and fish passes will be the installation of new waterway walls. These will be built using 1,200 steel piles driven into the ground to support the new structures. Piling work will continue, periodically, until December 2007.

To minimise the noise, shorter, 'anchored' piles will be used instead of traditional 'cantilevers', employing quieter 'vibro-piling rigs' to drive most of the piles into the ground, and using impact hammers only for the last couple of metres. Where possible the impact of the hammer will be muffled by screens and sound barriers.

By Graeme Ewens