A428 Black Cat to Caxton Gibbet improvements TR010044 Volume 4 4.1 Statement of Reasons Planning Act 2008 Regulation 5(2)(h) Infrastructure Planning (Applications: Prescribed Forms and Procedure) Regulations 2009 26 February 2021 A428 Black Cat to Caxton Gibbet improvements Statement of Reasons Statement of Reasons Infrastructure Planning Planning Act 2008 The Infrastructure Planning (Applications: Prescribed Forms and Procedure) Regulations 2009 A428 Black Cat to Caxton Gibbet improvements Development Consent Order 202[ ] Statement of Reasons Regulation Reference: Regulation 5(2)(h) Planning Inspectorate Scheme TR010044 Reference Application Document Reference TR010044/APP/4.1 Author: A428 Black Cat to Caxton Gibbet improvements Scheme Team, Highways England Version Date Status of Version Rev 1 26 February 2021 DCO Application Planning Inspectorate Scheme Ref: TR010044 Application Document Ref: TR010044/APP/4.1 A428 Black Cat to Caxton Gibbet improvements Statement of Reasons Statement of Reasons Table of contents 1 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Summary ............................................................................................................... 1 1.2 The Scheme .......................................................................................................... 1 1.3 Compulsory acquisition ......................................................................................... 1 1.4 Land interests ........................................................................................................ 1 1.5 The case for compulsory acquisition ..................................................................... 2 1.6 Human rights ......................................................................................................... 3 1.7 Compliance with statutory requirements and policy guidance ............................... 3 2 The Scheme ......................................................................................................... 4 2.1 Description of the Scheme .................................................................................... 4 2.2 Case for the Scheme ............................................................................................ 6 2.3 Benefits of the Scheme ......................................................................................... 7 2.4 The authorised works ............................................................................................ 8 2.5 Alternatives and Flexibility ..................................................................................... 8 3 Compulsory Acquisition ................................................................................... 11 3.1 Scope of compulsory acquisition powers with reference to the draft DCO .......... 11 3.2 Main compulsory acquisition powers ................................................................... 11 3.3 Other Compulsory Acquisition Powers ................................................................ 12 3.4 Temporary possession powers ........................................................................... 13 3.5 Other rights and powers ...................................................................................... 14 4 Land interests.................................................................................................... 16 4.1 The extent of the land subject to powers ............................................................. 16 4.2 Location............................................................................................................... 16 4.3 Existing land use and character .......................................................................... 17 4.4 Identifying persons with an interest in the land .................................................... 17 4.5 Category 1 and 2 persons ................................................................................... 18 4.6 Category 3 persons – section 10 of the Compulsory Purchase Act 1965 (CPA 1965) and/or section 152(3) of the PA 2008........................................................ 19 4.7 Assessment of Category 3 persons which fall under Part I of the Land Compensation Act 1973 (LCA 1973) ................................................................... 19 Planning Inspectorate Scheme Ref: TR010044 Application Document Ref: TR010044/APP/4.1 A428 Black Cat to Caxton Gibbet improvements Statement of Reasons Statement of Reasons 4.8 Contact referencing ............................................................................................. 20 4.9 Negotiation to acquire by agreement .................................................................. 20 4.10 Utility diversions .................................................................................................. 22 5 The case for compulsory acquisition .............................................................. 27 5.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 27 5.2 The statutory conditions and CA Guidance ......................................................... 27 5.3 Need for the land and the purposes for which compulsory acquisition powers are sought ................................................................................................................. 28 5.4 Compelling case in the public interest ................................................................. 29 5.5 Consideration of Alternatives .............................................................................. 30 5.6 Reasonable prospect of funding .......................................................................... 30 5.7 Acquisition by agreement .................................................................................... 31 5.8 Conclusions ......................................................................................................... 31 6 Human rights ..................................................................................................... 32 6.1 The protected rights ............................................................................................ 32 6.2 Compliance with the convention .......................................................................... 33 6.3 Consideration of duties under the Equality Act 2010 ........................................... 34 6.4 Compensation ..................................................................................................... 35 6.5 Conclusions ......................................................................................................... 35 7 Special considerations ..................................................................................... 36 7.1 Crown Land ......................................................................................................... 36 7.2 Special category land – land forming part of a common, open space, or fuel or field garden allotment – including any exchange land arrangements .................. 36 7.3 Statutory Undertaker land ................................................................................... 36 7.4 Other consents .................................................................................................... 37 8 Conclusions....................................................................................................... 38 8.1 Overview ............................................................................................................. 38 Annexes .............................................................................................................................. Planning Inspectorate Scheme Ref: TR010044 Application Document Ref: TR010044/APP/4.1 A428 Black Cat to Caxton Gibbet improvements Statement of Reasons Statement of Reasons 1 Introduction 1.1 Summary This Statement of Reasons (this Statement) relates to an application, made by Highways England (the Applicant) to the Secretary of State for Transport (Secretary of State) via the Planning Inspectorate (the Inspectorate) under the Planning Act 2008 (PA 2008) for a Development Consent Order (DCO). If made, the DCO would grant consent for the A428 Black Cat to Caxton Gibbet improvements (the Scheme). This Statement has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of 5(2)(h) of the Infrastructure Planning (Applications: Prescribed Forms and Procedure) Regulations 2009 (the APFP Regulations) and the Planning Act 2008: ‘Guidance related to procedures for compulsory acquisition of land’ (DCLG, September 2013) (the CA Guidance). 1.2 The Scheme The Scheme is a highway nationally significant infrastructure project (NSIP) within sections 14(1)(h) and 22(1)(a) of the PA 2008 and the scheme also includes the diversion of a high pressure gas pipeline, which will be treated as a NSIP if it meets the thresholds set out in s20 of the PA 2008 when constructed. Further information regarding how the Scheme qualifies as an NSIP can be found in the Explanatory Memorandum [TR010044/APP/3.2]. As the Scheme is an NSIP, development consent must be obtained from the Secretary of State to authorise it, and an application for a DCO must be made to the Secretary of State under section 37 of the PA 2008. In summary the Scheme comprises: a new 10 mile (16km) dual 2-lane carriageway from the Black Cat roundabout to Caxton Gibbet roundabout, to be known as the A421 (hereafter referred to as the ‘new dual carriageway’)