CLIENT
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Guildford Borough Council
CLIENT INDUSTRY
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Infrastructure and Regeneration
SERVICES PROVIDED
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CPO, Development (including local market knowledge) and Planning
LOCATION
- Ash, Surrey
DATE
- 2018 to 2021
CHALLENGE
Guildford Borough Council (GBC) have been promoting a significant road and bridge scheme over the railway line near Ash Station that will enable closure of the existing level crossing and unlock development under a land allocation for more than 700 residential units.
To facilitate this project, GBC have undertaken to acquire a number of third party industrial interests, including land with 'no scheme world' development potential.
The project was also heavily reliant on securing funding from external sources such as the Homes England Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF) in addition to s106 contributions from neighbouring developents.
INSTRUCTIONS
Savills (CPO team, Guildford Planning and Development colleagues) is working with GBC and a wider professional team to reach negotiated agreements to purchase many of the properties in advance of the Council obtaining CPO powers.
Meanwhile, as a last resort and in order to guarantee vacant possession within a limited time frame, GBC is in the process of assembling all the requirements necessary (for example funding and planning permission) to make a CPO under s226 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and Savills is instructed to assist with the preparation of the relevant documentation in order to demonstrate at a Public Inquiry that negotiations had been conducted in accordance with the MHCLG guidance.
Savills was instrumental in preparing the HIF bid, which GBC ultimately secured.
The development team worked closely with GBC’s planning team to establish appropriate s106 charge rates for contributions towards the scheme.
The team worked with GBC and a wider professional team to reach negotiated agreements to purchase all of the required land, which in turn avoided the need for the Council to apply for CPO powers, thus saving time and costs as well as avoiding further risk for the project.
RESULTS
HIF funding secured and agreements were reached for the acquisition of the necessary third party interests which enables delivery of the scheme. Ultimately, there was no need for GBC to make a CPO.