Purpose

Seeking amendment to the Cabinet decision of
9th November 2021 – Land Acquisition, Compulsory Purchase
Order and Side Roads Order

Content

The Princes Risborough Southern
Road Link (PRSRL) was currently stalled, and this report set out
the current position and that the Council could no longer carry out
the construction of the PRSRL. It was now anticipated that the road
would be constructed by developers wishing to progress housing
development in the Expansion Area. This report set out the
implications of not pursuing the planning application, the existing
blight risk, and the current challenges relating to the Princes
Risborough Expansion Area. The Council had been unable to secure
the additional funding to meet the full cost of delivery of the
scheme and consequently could not pursue a Compulsory Purchase
Order for the necessary land, or
contractually commit to the construction of the road.
 
Due to significant price
inflation, in late 2021 a Cabinet paper set out that the Council
would be unable to deliver the road. All expenditure on the project
was halted by the Council in early 2023 (with some legal costs
ongoing) and staff reallocated to other work. Protracted
negotiations with developers of the PREA took place from Summer
2023 until Autumn 2024 to attempt to include delivery of the road
as part of anticipated planning applications. Unfortunately, it was
confirmed by developers in late 2024 that this would not happen
in the near future.
 
A representation had been
received from a member of the public which was taken into account by Cabinet Members before the
decision was taken.
 
RESOLVED that
 

·        
no further steps be taken to pursue the planning
application for the Princes Risborough Southern Link Road scheme
and cease all negotiations with Network Rail.

·        
no further steps be taken under the Cabinet
decision of 9th November 2021 in respect of PRSRL– Land
Acquisition, Compulsory Purchase Order and Side Roads Order”
as detailed in Confidential Appendix A of the report

·        
use of existing capital budget of
£1,467,697 be approved for ongoing work and that this be
delegated to the Corporate Director for Planning, Growth and
Sustainability (PG&S) to:

o Take all necessary steps to make the Little Kimble
Cottages safe and secure. Pursue further options utilising existing
budget

o Continue to fund analysis of the Buckinghamshire
Transport model against the whole PREA.

o Make budget adjustments to the approved use of
existing capital budget of £1,467,697 for ongoing work
including managing existing assets, establishing necessary further
highways modelling work, and offsetting potential risks as set out
in Confidential Appendix A of the report.