22nd May 2025
Freddie van Mierlo, MP for Henley and Thame has tabled a significant amendment to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill that aims to break the deadlock on stalled active travel projects, like the much-anticipated Thame to Haddenham Greenway.
The amendment would require the government to update official guidance on the use of Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPOs), making it clear that active travel infrastructure such as walking, cycling and wheeling routes can qualify as a compelling case in the public interest. While CPOs are routinely used for road building, councils are currently hesitant to use them for active travel due to a lack of clear legal backing.
Under the proposed amendment, the Secretary of State would be required to issue or update guidance within 12 months of the Act becoming law. This guidance must:
- State explicitly that CPOs can be used in the public interest for active travel
- Allow councils to proceed where they have considered reasonable alternative routes, without needing to prove that the proposed route is the only or best one
- Support the delivery of active travel infrastructure as a priority within planning law
The Thame to Haddenham Greenway, a safe and car free route connecting Thame to Haddenham & Thame Parkway Station, has wide support from local councils, residents and campaigners. However, unresolved land access issues have prevented the project from moving forward, despite its clear environmental and community benefits.
Commenting on the amendment, Freddie van Mierlo said:
“The Thame to Haddenham Greenway is exactly the kind of low carbon, high impact project we should be delivering without delay, however one or two landowners can hold up vital infrastructure that the entire community supports. This amendment gives councils the legal clarity they need to act.”
