In partnership with SLC Property, we have been advising Northumberland County Council on property, planning and rail industry agreements to support plans to reopen a former rail passenger line between Newcastle and Ashington. The scheme involves:
- The upgrading of the current 12 mile stretch of freight only line,
- The construction of six new railway stations at Northumberland Park, Seaton Delaval, Newsham, Bebside, Bedlington and Ashington.
- Installation of associated infrastructure such as re-signaling and earthworks
- Upgrades to level crossings, including interventions such as footbridges or underpasses where appropriate.
- Upgrades and re-construction of existing underbridges on the route.
We have had extensive involvement in the project including, but not limited to:
- Led on pre-application discussions with the local planning authority and other key stakeholders.
- Led on the submission of Request for a Screening Opinion to both Northumberland County Council and North Tyneside Council, as the local planning authorities. Extensive engagement ensured that both local planning authorities confirmed that the project did not require an Environmental Impact Assessment.
- Prepared and authored supporting Landscape and Visual Impact Assessments, proposed landscaping plans, Design and Access Statements, Planning Statements, outline Constrution Environmental Management Plans, Health and Wellbeing Statements and Statements of Community Engagement.
- Supported the preparation and submission of the Transport and Works Act Order, including the preparation of an extensive suite of plans to support the submission, drafting text to inform the order and attending the public enquiry as an Expert Planning Witness. The Transport and Works Act Order was granted in 2022.
- Collated and submitted planning applications and obtained planning consent for works at the six railway stations, as well as key interventions such as a new underpass at the existing Palmersville level crossing, and a new footbridge at the existing Chase Meadows Level crossing.
- Collated and submitted and obtained approval for several s73 and non-material amendments to consent changes to the scheme as a result of design evolution.
- Prepared applications for prior approval to consent works to three existing underbridges on the line.
- Submitted applications to discharge over 150 planning conditions attached to the approved planning applications.
- Devised the public consultation strategy to align the requirements for the pre-planning application, Transport and Work Act Orders and Level Crossing Order consultations. Drafted the text for engagement resources. Management and co-ordination of a series of multidisciplinary project workshops to consider the public engagement responses and feed this into the design development.
- Co-ordinated the pre-planning public engagement for the new underpass to replace the existing level crossing at Palmersville.
- Authored Statements of Community Engagement to support applications for planning permission at the six other key interventions such as the Palmersville level crossing.
The Northumberland Line is a regionally important project. The approach for securing land and consents is multifaceted and significant knowledge and resource has been required to determine the optimum delivery strategy, particularly within tight timescales. We continue to work closely with our partners to ensure the smooth delivery of the project as the commencement of passenger services nears.
The first three stations are due to open to passenger services at the end of 2024, with the remaining three stations to follow in 2025. We continue to support the project to ensure the final consents are secured in advance of station opening.