Train station goes ahead after landowners sell up - The Evesham Observer

Train station goes ahead after landowners sell up

Evesham Editorial 15th Jul, 2016 Updated: 20th Oct, 2016   0

WORK on the county’s newest railway station will proceed after an order was confirmed to purchase the land.

The Secretary of State has confirmed the compulsory purchase order on land required for the new Worcestershire Parkway Regional Interchange Station enabling Worcestershire County Council to use its powers to purchase the remaining land for the station’s development.

All statutory objections related to the order were withdrawn in May, meaning a public inquiry that was scheduled to have taken place was unnecessary.

In 2014, the Worcestershire LEP (Local Enterprise Partnership) provisionally allocated £8.3million from the Worcestershire Local Growth Deal towards a new station.




The remainder of the funds, around £14million, is expected to come from the county council which will be recouped through car park and station access charges levied on the train operating companies.

A spokesman for the Hartwright Family, Principal Landowners, said: “We are delighted to have recently completed, with professional advice, the sale by agreement of our land to the county council.


“This will enable, we hope, the important Parkway Station to be delivered. There have been no other legitimate interests in our land since 2012, despite third party claims otherwise.”

The station, which is set to offer 25,000 jobs by 2025, will be strategically placed to improve access to London and the wider UK via the North Cotswold and north-south CrossCountry rail services.

It will also increase accessibility to markets and employment, encourage inward investment and economic growth in Worcestershire.

Coun Ken Pollock, Cabinet Member for Economy, Skills and Infrastructure, said: “The Secretary of State’s decision brings certainty for everyone.

“We can now continue to work with our partners to focus on realising the economic potential of this very important scheme.”

Work will start on Worcestershire Parkway Regional Interchange Station in early 2017 and is due for completion in spring 2018.

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