Overview

The Crossrail Bill authorizes the construction and operation of a new east-west railway line in London, connecting Maidenhead, Heathrow Airport, central London, Shenfield, and Abbey Wood. The bill also makes provisions for land acquisition, planning permissions, environmental impact assessments, and other necessary steps for the project's completion.

Description

Works

The bill details the construction and maintenance of the Crossrail railway line, including specific works such as tunnels, stations, shafts, and other related infrastructure across various London boroughs and surrounding areas. It outlines provisions for deviations from the originally planned route and levels.

Land Acquisition

The Secretary of State is given powers to compulsorily acquire land needed for the project, both within and outside the originally designated limits. The bill specifies the purposes for which land can be acquired and sets out compensation procedures for affected landowners.

Planning and Environmental Matters

The bill grants deemed planning permission for most of the development, subject to certain conditions and provisions for handling Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA). Specific procedures for planning applications and fees are also laid out.

Heritage and Other Regulations

The bill addresses the impact on heritage sites, modifying or disapplying relevant controls for listed buildings and conservation areas. It also provides for dealing with trees, noise control, and other matters relating to construction.

Railway Matters

The bill modifies existing railway legislation to accommodate Crossrail, including licensing, franchising, and operational matters. It introduces provisions for cooperation between Crossrail and other railway operators and outlines dispute resolution mechanisms.

Transfers

The Secretary of State is granted the power to implement schemes for transferring property, rights, and liabilities from various public and private entities to facilitate the Crossrail project. The bill includes tax provisions related to these transfers.

Miscellaneous Provisions

The bill contains miscellaneous provisions relating to burial grounds, landlord-tenant law, Crown land, compensation, and temporary possession agreements. It also includes sections for correcting inaccuracies in the deposited plans and for the service of documents.

Government Spending

The bill states that any expenditure incurred by the Secretary of State in consequence of this Act, and any increase attributable to this Act in the sums payable out of money provided by Parliament under any other enactment shall be paid out of money provided by Parliament. Exact figures are not provided in the bill itself.

Groups Affected

The groups potentially affected by the bill include:

• Landowners: Potentially affected by compulsory purchase of their land.
• Residents and Businesses: May experience disruption during construction and potential changes to local amenities.
• Railway Operators: May be affected by changes to railway legislation and transfer schemes.
• Utility Companies: May need to relocate their apparatus.
• Heritage Organizations: May be concerned about the impact on listed buildings and other heritage assets.
• Environmental Groups: May be concerned about environmental impacts.

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