Representation by The owners C/O Rosenholme, Princess Margaret Road (The owners C/O Rosenholme, Princess Margaret Road)
- Date submitted
- 23 February 2023
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
Mark Osborne, Shaun Osborne and Ms J Bower as freehold owners have instructed me to submit the following objection to the Lower Thames Crossing (“LTC”) application as their land is included in this. Engagement from National Highways The LTC project has failed to adopt a strategic masterplanning exercise from the outset that sought to recognise the wider implications of the LTC on existing and future growth plans for South Essex. There has been limited engagement from National Highways and their agents with landowners to consider how LTC could provide additional community benefits and mitigate the loss of productive farmland. There has been various discussions regarding carrying out surveys on my clients land and requests for information but no meaningful dialogue in relation to the potential purchase of my clients land or ability for my client and occupiers to use the land under a management agreement (See below). Management Agreement My clients had previously been informed that it may be possible to continue using the land after acquisition if a management agreement is entered into. My clients are willing to explore this possibility but no further details/prescriptions of the suggested management agreement have been received despite requests. Business Viability If the land is acquired the existing farming business is likely to be unsustainable. The land currently subject to potential acquisition is integral to the business. There is limited land available in this location on the market to be able to purchase additional land to be able to continue the existing business. Environmental Mitigation The land proposed for acquisition is currently farmland and not zoned for development. Given the current status of the land and a significant proportion being grass land it is already a reasonable environmental habitat for various species. Other land not currently of such environmental standing should be developed for the purposes of the environmental mitigation associated with the Lower Thames Crossing. My clients dispute the need that the land should be acquired as part of the scheme.