Agenda item

To Follow

(a)  That following negotiations with the DfT and Great Western Railway (GWR) that there would no longer be a requirement to build a new maintenance depot at Langley.

(b)  That it be noted that the Heathrow Express service would continue to operate at least until 2028.

(c)  That it be noted that the maintenance would be managed by GWR at Reading.

(d)  That the Council would no longer be able to claim £6.25m as part of the assurance letter.

(e)  That the Council would pursue the availability of the land for housing to meet the Local Plan requirements.

(f)  That the Council would pursue the reimbursement of legal fees and other costs expended through the petitioning process of the AP2 and AP4 process.

The Director of Regeneration introduced a report that informed the Cabinet of the decision of the Department for Transport and High Speed 2 (HS2) that there was no longer a requirement to construct a new maintenance depot at Langley for the Heathrow Express service.

The Cabinet was reminded that the Council had made strong representations at the time that there were better options for the depot and it had now been decided that one of them, GWR maintenance at Reading, would be used.  The Council therefore welcomed the decision as it would remove a potential risk to the costs and timescales for the Western Rail Link to Heathrow scheme and the fact the land would be available for other uses including housing.  It was noted that the Council would no longer be able to claim the £6.25m earmarked in the mitigation package.  The Council would seek to recoup costs and legal fees expended as part of the petitioning process and the Cabinet requested that this be extended to all costs incurred on this matter, including officer time.

The Leader welcomed the decision and gave an update more generally on discussions with Heathrow following the concerns the Cabinet raised about the airports expansion plans in its recent consultation.  It had been agreed to hold a workshop to address the issues for Colnbrook, to conduct a study on historic buildings and work with Pippins School on a mitigation package.

Resolved –

(a)  That it be noted that following negotiations with the DfT and Great Western Railway (GWR) there would no longer be a requirement to build a new maintenance depot at Langley.

(b)  That it be noted that the Heathrow Express service would continue to operate at least until 2028.

(c)  That it be noted that the maintenance would be managed by GWR at Reading.

(d)  That the Council would no longer be able to claim £6.25m as part of the assurance letter.

(e)  That the Council would pursue the availability of the land for housing to meet the Local Plan requirements.

(f)  That the Council would pursue the reimbursement of legal fees and other costs expended through the petitioning process of the AP2 and AP4 process.