Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government by which legal process they expect consent for the East West Rail route section between Bedford and Cambridge to be obtained, and what is the current timescale for obtaining that consent and starting construction.
East West Rail Company is expected to make an application for a Development Consent Order (DCO) to obtain planning consent for the preferred East West Rail route alignment. The DCO application will follow public consultation in 2024. Timing for construction commencing is subject to the DCO application being successful.