| Client: | Cambridgeshire County Council |
|---|---|
| Location: | Cambridgeshire |
| Services: | Acquisition, Land referencing, Feasibility and development |
 Download PDF Case Study |
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Cambridgeshire Guided Busway
Cambridgeshire County Council is working towards completion of Europe´s largest guided busway project by spring 2009. The £120 million, 25 km Guided Busway will link St Ives to the City of Cambridge, Arbury Park, Addenbrooke´s hospital and Trumpington Park and Ride.
Ardent´s involvement in this project spans nine years and the consultancy is continuing to play a major role. We have undertaken: feasibility; consultation; property cost estimates; objection management; negotiation of third party agreements; preparation of evidence and acted as an expert witness at the public inquiry; land and compensation budgets; land procurement advice; compulsory purchase advice and carried out land acquisition negotiations. We continue to be retained on the project providing ongoing advice on land and property issues.
We are proud of our achievements during this project:
- The project received well in excess of 2,000 objections with approximately 250 land owner objections and was the subject of a three-month public inquiry.
- The project received well in excess of 2,000 objections with approximately 250 land owner objections and was the subject of a three-month public inquiry.
- We undertook many complex land negotiations whereby, as well as bringing about objection withdrawals, Ardent was able to secure land below the market value. This saved millions of pounds on behalf of the project without affecting any contributions to be made by developers through the planning process through s106 contributions.
- The property related objections still remaining at commencement of the Public Inquiry were dealt with by our evidence at the Inquiry. This ensured successful resolution of all land and property issues enabling the Order to be confirmed.
- The scheme also required the acquisition of a Network Rail former railway corridor, an easement to across Cambridge Station forecourt and a bridge over the London to Cambridge mainline railway to access Addenbrooke´s hospital. We were involved in the acquisition of all the lands and rights.
