Work on long awaited improvements to widen the 7.5 mile (11.5km) section of the A453 between M1 junction 24 and the A52 Nottingham Ring Road completed last summer after a construction period of 2.5 years.
The major route between Nottingham, the M1 and Nottingham East Midlands Airport; the A453 carries up to 30,000 vehicles a day.
The previous single carriageway road was heavily congested at peak times and had a poor safety record. The &150 million widening scheme has improved journey times and reliability and provided a safer environment for all road users, but inevitably neighbouring land and property owners have been significantly affected by the scheme through land take, noise, vibration and other disruption.
Early involvement
From 2009 when the scheme was first proposed the Fisher German Compulsory Purchase team have assisted a wide range of clients affected including tenant farmers, owner/occupiers, commercial owners and residential properties to mitigate the effects of the scheme providing advice with regard to compensation and accommodation works as well as planning and taxation advice as appropriate.
Design proposal changes
Through our early involvement with the proposals for the road widening and liaison with prospective contractors and District Valuer services, regarding design of road layout and negotiation of potential accommodation works, we were successful in effecting changes to the design proposal; including provision of a secondary access to circa 288 acres of agricultural land that would have otherwise been serviced only by an overbridge (with limited width and weight restrictions).
In representing our clients Fisher German have been able to make what can often be a very stressful time for the landowner easier to manage, dealing with notices and on-site issues during construction, including agreeing final design and layout of accommodation works, from ditches and fences to private rights of way and private means of access routes.
Although the new road is now operational, Fisher German continue to negotiate outstanding compensation claims with the District Valuer Service supported by Highways England. Although the road is open to traffic, snagging lists in respect of restoration works and some accommodation works remain outstanding; for those affected by the scheme, the project will not be complete until these issues are resolved.
For further information about how our compulsory purchase team can help landowners contact John Ikin on 01530 410814 or email here