Statement regarding sale of land at Mansfield Farm/Uxbridge Moor, Iver
Following a decision this week by Buckinghamshire Council’s Cabinet to proceed with the sale of 70 acres of greenbelt land (Mansfield Farm/Uxbridge Moor) in Iver to National Grid to facilitate a new electrical substation, John Chilver, Buckinghamshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Accessible Housing and Resources has commented.
“This is not a position the council wants to be in. We have very little say over this land or its future which the National Grid has clearly indicated they will acquire though a Compulsory Purchase Order if a sale is not agreed with the council. We have decided therefore to reluctantly proceed with a negotiated land sale so we can at least secure the best outcome for Buckinghamshire residents from the sale of this land.
We are fighting tooth and nail to protect our greenbelt from development under the eye-watering new housing targets being imposed on Buckinghamshire and this is another example of losing precious land to new infrastructure in a location over which we have no choice.
This is the rationale for our decision to proceed with the sale of the land, which otherwise we would not be selling for this purpose, were there any alternative. The truth is that National Grid have statutory powers to make unilateral decisions on where they place their infrastructure and have the power to use this land regardless.”