A Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) and Side Roads Order (SRO) were made on the 23 August 2013, to enable the delivery of the Link Road and following a public inquiry on 23 September 2014 both the CPO and SRO were confirmed by the Secretary of State for Communities and the Local Government and the Secretary of State for Transport respectively.

A decision was made on the 24th September and 30th September 2021 to agree professional support required in regards to negotiating and agreeing statutory compensation due under s52 Land Compensation Act 1973 up until the 31st December 2021, the links to these decisions are:

https://councillors.herefordshire.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=8257

Decision - Payment for professional services costs in relation to the Edgar Street Grid Link Road and Urban Village / Hereford City Centre Transport Package land acquisition - Herefordshire Council

Other than Lambeth Smith Hampton the costs identified specifically relate to the one outstanding claim that relate to three property interests.

A further decision was made on 16th November 2021 to extend the standstill agreement to the 28 February 2022 in order to try and reach a settlement without the need to reference the claim to the Upper tier lands tribunal, the link to the decision is :
https://councillors.herefordshire.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=8386

Ongoing professional support is required and this decision is to update the position and associated professional support costs to date and up to the submission of the statements of case.

To date the following payments have been made:

Professional Service Amount (£)
Lambeth Smith Hampton 138k
Forensic accountant 12k
Barber Wadlow 28k
Pinsent Masons 29k
Counsel Advice £7k
Planning advice £5.6k

Total £220k

All of the above have been procured in line with the council’s contract procedure rules. The total payments will be £264k