Property interfaces with Network Rail and Transport for London will always be a major risk to project cost and programme. If their network is not available for use, rail infrastructure owners have to pay damages to Train Operating Companies that can amount to as much as £5 million a day, often leaving rail-project promoters facing huge potential liabilities.
And yet, with development land in cities a scarce commodity and the need for ‘sustainable’ development in close proximity to transport hubs, the demand to undertake rail-related projects is at an all-time high. Infrastructure owners themselves are also keen to generate additional revenues to meet the costs of investing in their networks and to generate additional revenue.
With direct client-side experience of project delivery at Network Rail, Crossrail and Transport for London, the aspire team are uniquely placed to help our clients navigate the minefield of working above and around operational assets. Three partners have each held director or senior management positions in the client side of the rail industry. We have an intimate knowledge of how property acquisition and development is managed within the rail regulatory framework, we understand how infrastructure owners operate and know what may or may not be deliverable in this environment.
As rail-property project specialists we are expert in negotiations for ‘special purchase’ of railway land as well as land value capture. We know how to unlock ‘shared value’ ransom positions, how to manage the ‘GRIP’ process and negotiate asset/ infrastructure protection agreements that will create rather than destroy value. Our network of contacts within the railway business is unrivalled and, having acted both for and against the infrastructure owners, we understand their requirements, the regulatory regime they must adhere to, what their negotiating red lines will be and where to target wins.
For more information, download our Rail Capability Statement Below: