Over three hundred residents from Alderley Edge and Wilmslow are seeking compensation from Cheshire East Council (CEC), claiming that the Alderley Edge Bypass has devalued their home.
Given the road opened in November 2010, the window for compensation claims will not close until 2017 so residents still have several years to make claims under the 1973 Land Compensation Act.
People can claim that their property has been reduced in value by physical factors, such as noise, artificial light, vibration and fumes, caused by the building of the new road.
In October CEC agreed to add a further £3m to the budget, because at that time claims were expected to exceed the budget by £2.4m, due to an increase in land costs and the actual areas of land acquired, as well as increased disturbance and an increase in the number of properties eligible to claim. (We are awaiting confirmation from CEC as to the total budget now set aside to settle all land related and compensation claims.)
Cheshire East are hoping to finance this additional £3 million by selling land and property in the area, which they purchased several years ago during the development of the bypass.
A Council spokesperson said: "We have so far received 305 claims for compensation relating to the construction of the Alderley Edge Bypass.
"All agents acting on behalf of residents have been informed that we are carrying out a thorough review of all claims to make sure they are dealt with fairly and in accordance with the Council's obligations.
"It is important that this process is not rushed and that we establish who is legitimately entitled to compensation. It is vital that we use tax payers' money in a responsible way, something we think the majority of Cheshire East residents would support us in.
"As soon as we have carried out the review we will deal with individual claims as quickly as possible."
