Sharpe Pritchard advises county on s106 agreement delivering transport improvements ahead of SnOasis development

Sharpe Pritchard has advised Suffolk County Council on the completed section 106 agreement relating to the proposed SnOasis development near Stowmarket.

The SnOasis development in Great Blakenham will include a ski slope, ice rinks and a bobsleigh run. The proposal has been in development for the last 16 years.

Brian Hurwitz and Andrew Swaffer in Sharpe Pritchard’s planning team acted for the county in the negotiations with the developers and the drafting of the agreement, which also involved Mid-Suffolk District Council.

While Mid-Suffolk was the lead planning authority, Suffolk was responsible for enforcing the highways and transport obligations in the agreement. The Sharpe Pritchard team has been instructed by Suffolk on the current scheme for the last two years.

Sharpe Pritchard’s team negotiated provisions for shuttle and employee bus services, a new pedestrian footbridge at Stowmarket Railway Station, as well as a public access contribution of £664,170 and a payment of £200,000 for strategic highway improvements.

The shuttle bus and footbridge commitments also provide step-in rights to the county council if the owner defaults, secured by bonds or cash deposits of £550,000 each and a security payment to cover Suffolk’s full costs of carrying out the work.

Brian Hurwitz said: “As this is a major infrastructure project, it is essential that the transport links are sustainable and robust.

“A comprehensive s106 agreement, which is sensitive to the needs of the local communities living near to a major development, will have a substantial effect upon the long-term success of that development for everyone from the developer to its employees and local people.

Final approval for the SnOasis development was granted by Mid-Suffolk’s chief planning offices using emergency delegated powers within the planning committee unable to meet during the Coronavirus outbreak.