East West Rail Preferred Route Bedford to Cambridge

The Oxford-Cambridge Arc innovation growth area took a step forward last month with the announcement of the preferred route for the Bedford to Cambridge rail link. In a joint announcement by the Department for Transport and the housing ministry the preferred route is ‘Route E’, which would run from Bedford, south of St Neots and Tempsford, via Cambourne to Cambridge. Stations at Bedford and Cambridge will be modified, alongside the building of new stations at St Neots/Sandy and Cambourne. This option is estimated to cost £3.4 billion and has the potential to improve rail links to support opportunities for new housing, reduce congestion and pollution, and unlock the economic potential across the region. The reasons for the selection of Route E include the value to the taxpayer, the popularity of the route from the public consultation and the environmental considerations, including the possible impact on ancient woodland and Wimpole Hall of other potential route options.
The next stage for East West Rail on the Bedford to Cambridge section will be to develop possible route alignments. This will involve public consultations and the process will be undertaken during 2020/2021. East West Rail may access land to gather information to enable the possible route alignments to be the most suitable designs. This will involve attempting to reduce social and environmental impacts, by avoiding residential areas and reducing the flood risk. This will lead to a selection of a Preferred Route Alignment in 2021/2022. With an eye to the future, an application for a Development Consent Order from the Secretary of State will be proposed and, after the Planning Inspectorate has made a recommendation, the project may be given the go-ahead. If a Development Consent Order is granted, then construction is due to begin in 2025.
Buying land for the railway is very much in the long term; until the Preferred Route Alignment has been selected there is uncertainty regarding the exact route of the railway line. East West Rail states it “will seek powers to acquire land compulsorily as part of our planning process, but our preference will always be to enter into voluntary agreements where possible”.
If your land may be affected by this project or you have any questions, then please contact Harrison Riddle on 01536 532399 email harrison.riddle@berrys.uk.com.