London's new supersewer does a U-bend

Thames Water has redesigned its supersewer following thousands of complaints from Londoners affected by the project.

The water giant today unveiled a new route for the 7.2 metre-wide tunnel, set to be the biggest engineering scheme undertaken in the capital. It will avoid Barn Elms, in Richmond, where local residents campaigned to save a local beauty spot. Instead, one of the tunnel's main entrances will be at Carnwath Road Riverside in Fulham. The two other entrances will be at Chambers Wharf in Bermondsey, replacing King's Stairs Gardens in Rotherhithe, and at Kirtling Street in Battersea.

Thames also admitted the cost of the project has risen to £4.1 billion, blaming plans for 90 per cent of excavated soil to be transported away by barge or rail to minimise congestion on London roads during the six-year construction period, set to begin in 2016. Thames said the increase would eventually cost Londoners £70-£80 a year, but admitted it was not sure of the exact rise in water bills.

Richmond MP Zac Goldsmith applauded the changes. "This is a real victory for local people," he said. "The campaign [Save Barn Elms Alliance] brought the local community together and as a result, we have managed to protect the future of a valuable site."

Phil Stride, head of London Tideway Tunnels at Thames Water, said: "We have been working hard to refine our original plans, where possible, in the light of the concerns raised."

Angry residents and politicians in Fulham have already hit out at the new plans, accusing Thames Water of caving in to pressure to choose a residential rather than a "greenfield" site, and threatening protests.

Ann Rosenberg Bell, spokeswoman for local residents' groups, said: "This decision stinks of political interference. We are outraged that Thames Water appear to have come to a cynical, politically motivated decision which puts trees before people."

A 14-week consultation on the new plans starts today, with details at thamestunnelconsultation.co.uk