Representation by The London Pensions Fund Authority c/o Knight Frank IM (The London Pensions Fund Authority c/o Knight Frank IM)
- Date submitted
- 26 February 2020
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
Dear Sirs, APPLICATION BY NORTH SOMERSET DISTRICT COUNCIL FOR AN ORDER GRANTING DEVELOPMENT CONSENT FOR PORTISHEAD BRANCH LINE – METROWEST PHASE 1 (the ‘DCO’) METROWEST PHASE 1 (‘the Project’) NORTH SOMERSET DISTRICT COUNCIL (‘the Applicant’) (Redacted) (the ‘Property’) This Relevant Representation is submitted on behalf of The London Pensions Fund Authority ("TLPFA"). TLPFA is an Investment Fund which owns the Freehold interest in the above Property as an investment. The Property is multi-tenanted and occupied. The majority of the units on the estate are of Trade Counter nature and therefore visited by members of the public to purchase goods. Regular stock deliveries and pick-ups are made to and from the units, and staff also access the Property, The Property borders the existing public space provided by the recent MetroBus project which in turn borders the existing Portishead Branch Line to the east and the Ashton Vale Road to the north. The current Land Plans (Sheet 16 of 17) indicate that the Property is bordered by Plots 16/135, 16/136, 16/155 to the north and 16/156, 16/157, 16/100, 16/127 to the east. All the Plots listed as adjacent to the Property are subject to the compulsory acquisition of all estates and interests. It should be noted that Plot 16/155 appears to encroach onto the Freehold interest that TLPFA has in the land adjacent to the walkway along Ashton Vale Road as seen in the current Land Plans (Sheet 16 of 17) and therefore may be subject to land take. TLPFA does not object to the principle of the underlying Project sought by the DCO in terms of the benefits it is seeking to deliver from Bristol to Portishead and region beyond. However, it is concerned with the impact of the Project detrimentally affecting Tenants’ on-going operations specifically at the Property. This includes the impact caused by the Project on Tenants, their staff, delivery drivers and members of the public access and egress from the Property during the course of the Project's construction and operation. TLPFA objects to the DCO on the basis that it has not been proven by the Applicant that the construction and operation of the Project will not cause a detrimental impact to TLPFA and their Tenants’ operations, including by assessment of transport impacts and how access and egress to the Property by the increased closure of the level crossing once the Project is operational. TLPFA is seeking expert advice to consider the material within the DCO documentation and is seeking a meeting with the Applicant to confirm whether any adverse impact to TLPFA’s interests and their Tenants’ operations can be satisfactorily addressed and mitigated as part of the DCO. TLPFA therefore requests to be registered as an Interested Party to the examination of the DCO and to make submissions on the topics of transport impact and compulsory acquisition relating to the Site. We look forward to hearing from you further in due course.