Agenda item

The Special Projects Planner, Mr Albertini, introduced a report that informed the Committee of the consultation on the Network Rail Preliminary Environmental Information Report regarding the forthcoming Development Consent Order application for the proposed Western Rail Link to Heathrow (WRLtH).  The consultation would close on 22^nd June and it was requested that the Planning Manager be given delegated authority to respond on behalf of the Council.

Mr Albertini summarised the current position regarding WRLtH and the scope of the consultation, which was a statutory consultation on the environmental aspects of the project prior to the submission of the Development Consent Order expected next year.  The key local environmental implications were noted to include the disruption and traffic issues during the construction phase and the permanent closure of Hollow Hill Lane at the railway bridge.  The Committee was also informed that the Council had engaged consultants to support the work to assess the environmental impacts and was in negotiations with Network Rail on a planning performance agreement which it was hoped would recover these costs.

Members raised a number of specific issues including the protrusion of access shafts in Sites of Special Scientific Interest and protected woodland and the air quality implications for the Langley area.  It was agreed that the impact of access shafts be highlighted as a concern in the consultation.  In terms of air quality, it was noted that the Council had sufficient information on air quality to make a decision about whether an Air Quality Management Area would be declared in the Langley area and this would be determined as part of the Low Emissions Strategy.

At the conclusion of the discussion, the Committee agreed to give delegated authority to the Planning Manager to respond to the consultation.

Resolved –  That the Planning Manager be given delegated authority to respond to the Network Rail consultation on the Preliminary Environmental Information Report for the Western Rail Link to Heathrow.