East West Railway: November 2024 update

Specialist compulsory purchase order solicitor, Catherine Hibbert, takes a look at the latest update with regard to the East West Railway scheme.

The promoters of the East West Rail project have confirmed that there will be a further ten week consultation window in relation to their emerging plans for this proposed new rail link running from Oxford to Cambridge. This consultation window will be open from 14 November 2024 until 24 January 2025.

The East West Railway website will be updated with consultation material from 14 November and there will be opportunities for the members of the public to view the emerging proposals either online or at various in-person events and to submit written/online comments.

This is the third informal consultation round undertaken by the scheme promoters, and follows earlier consultation rounds which focused on route options and alignments in 2019 and 2021 respectively. This consultation round will provide further opportunities for those affected by this scheme to make representations about the proposals which should be given due consideration by the scheme promoters as they firm up their plans. The forthcoming consultation round will be followed by a further, statutory consultation round ahead of submission of a formal application for development consent.

Holmes & Hills LLP urge all landowners potentially affected by the proposals to review the consultation material when it becomes available to check how the current proposals are likely to impact their interests - particularly where any change in alignment is proposed. The consultation proposals have scope to evolve further before the proposals are finalised and this consultation window is a good opportunity for those wishing to make further representations as to the suitability of the route as currently drafted ahead of the formal application for development order consent.

Further detail about how and where to view the consultation material and how to respond to this consultation round can be found on the promoters website.

If you are concerned about these proposals and need professional advice, our knowledgeable team of specialist compulsory purchase solicitors will of course be available to discuss your needs further.