Purpose

Seek authority to appropriate land held by Northumberland County Council for the purpose of delivering the Blyth Relief Road project.

Decision

RESOLVED that:-

(a)      Cabinet accepts, on a comparative assessment of public interest needs, that the NCC Open Space Land (as identified in the plan and schedule in Appendices A and B of the Land Appropriation Background Report) is no longer required for the purpose of open space for which it is currently held;

(b)      Cabinet authorises the publication of notices required by section 122(2A) LGA 1972 and records that it is minded for the Council to appropriate the NCC Open Space Land for planning purposes (within section 246(1) of the TCPA 1990) to facilitate the construction and operation of the Chase Farm Link, engaging the statutory override mechanism under section 203 HPA 2016, subject to and following the section 122 process and consideration of any representations received; and

(c)      authority be delegated to the Executive Director – Place and Regeneration to:

•         undertake the statutory advertising process required by section 122(2A) LGA 1972;

•         consider any objections or representations received in response to the statutory advertisements and decide, following such consideration, whether to proceed with the appropriation of the NCC Open Space Land (or any part thereof) for highway use; and

•         take all necessary steps to implement the recommendations set out in this Report, including the settlement of any compensation claims under section 204 HPA 2016, and any other action required to give effect to the appropriation and enable the delivery of the Scheme.