East West Rail

The CLA held a local landowner meeting to hear from members affected by East West Rail (EWR) on their experiences so far with the scheme.

EWR is a new railway which would connect communities between Oxford and Cambridge.

Members received an update on the current policy changes affecting infrastructure projects nationally from our CLA Infrastructure Policy Adviser Mark Burton. Mark explained what the new Planning and Infrastructure Bill will change, in particular, important changes to ‘loss payment’ calculations and the introduction to environmental delivery plans.

The government's recently published 10-year Infrastructure Strategy was highlighted, which seeks to reduce uncertainty by bringing together a long-term plan for the county’s social, economic and housing infrastructure.

On behalf of CLA members, Mark has also responded to the Law Commission’s consultation of the proposed legal reforms to make compulsory purchase simpler, clearer and more consistent. It proposed a number of technical changes including the abolishment of the ‘notice to treat’ procedure, as well as making disturbance payments for graziers mandatory.

Members raised a variety of concerns in relation to the East West Rail scheme including:

• Poor communication from acquiring authority agents.
• Lack of transparency with survey results between EWR and the landowner.
• Concerns around the delivery and location of the required environmental mitigation for the scheme.
• The financial and emotional toll this has so far taken on many landowners affected by the scheme.

The CLA is pushing to speak directly with EWR and their agent representatives to follow up on these points and endeavour to facilitate solutions to as many of these issues as possible. The CLA is also here to provide guidance to members on how they can effectively respond to the upcoming statutory consultation.

On a national level the CLA is lobbying for a Compulsory Purchase Code of Practice, which if implemented will be binding on both the landowner and the acquiring authority, and enforceable by an ombudsman. The code would mandate improved conduct in relation to prompt payment, high professional standards, good faith negotiations etc.

For further information and advice, please contact the CLA East office to speak with one of our advisers.