Former Bourne End to High Wycombe to railway line

TR9 - Former Bourne End to High Wycombe to railway line TR9: Former Bourne End to High Wycombe railway line 1. The former Bourne End to High Wycombe Railway Line is proposed as a new walking / wheeling /cycle route as shown on the Policies map. 2. Developments will not be supported where they would prejudice the construction of a 5m wide walking, wheeling and cycling corridor between Bourne End and High Wycombe town centre/railway station, utilising the track bed of the Bourne End to High Wycombe disused railway line. This route is to be separated from vehicular traffic where practicable. If in creating this new route, it is necessary to make diversions from the former railway track bed, the route chosen should not be significantly less direct or attractive. 3. The development of major (10 or more homes or employment equivalent) sites within 800 metres of the corridor will be required to make proportionate contributions to construction of the route and/or provide convenient links to the route (and sections of the route where appropriate), in order to maximise the opportunities for walking, wheeling and cycling. 4. Any future development proposals that would prejudice construction or operation, or prevent suitable diversions being created to provide the walking, wheeling and cycling corridor, will not be supported. 7.355 The track between High Wycombe and Bourne End was closed in 1970 and has been safeguarded since 1976. The Delivery and Site Allocations Plan for the former Wycombe District safeguarded the route in 2013 for its potential to be developed as a high-quality public transport corridor. 7.356 A study 21 recommended that “the relevant local authorities should prevent further development along the alignment, so that the route is preserved in the event of the case for the re-instatement of public transport route here strengthening in the future.” 7.357 Following further work the Council considers that the prospects for a public transport route being created are now very unlikely. However, the route does offer great potential as a walking and cycling route as it is direct and well connected to homes, schools, jobs, railway stations, open space and town/district centres on a largely flat, largely traffic free route through an attractive landscape. The route – much of which remains undeveloped - is therefore safeguarded for the provision of a dedicated walking/wheeling/cycling route. The route also has potential to enhance green infrastructure. It is identified in the emerging Local Nature Recovery Strategy as an Area that Could Become of Particular Importance for Biodiversity. 7.358 Creation of an active travel route along the former railway line would deliver economic and health benefits by encouraging cycling, wheeling and walking and could form part of the Sustrans National Cycle Network. Its route along the valley floor is well positioned, as it runs through/is adjacent to urban areas for almost all its length – close to schools, houses, workplaces, rail stations and town /district centres, so it could be used for all types of cycling and walking journeys and in many places could be separated from vehicular traffic in order to make this route more attractive to users. Studies have shown it is not otherwise practicable to meet modern design standards for a cycle route between High Wycombe and Bourne End. 7.359 The Council will seek delivery of convenient links to the route, and sections of the route where appropriate, through direct delivery or s106 contributions as necessary. In this case, where appropriate means where there are no obvious / overriding issues of topography, traffic or other severance and where it is practicable to create/deliver links and /or route sections. 21 Atkins, Thames Valley multi-modal study (2003) 7.360 To this effect, a buffer of 800 metres from the corridor boundary is proposed to capture s106 contributions from major sites (10 or more homes or employment equivalent). This corresponds to a 10 minutes’ walk / 3 minutes cycling and is deemed reasonable.