buy-out of peat extraction rights at
the challenge:
Advising Natural England in the buy-out of William Sinclair's
peat extraction rights at Bolton Fell Moss in Cumbria, recently
named a Site of Community Importance by the European
Commission.
our approach:
To avoid a period of costly, protracted negotiations, which
could result in William Sinclair’s interests in the land being
compulsorily purchased, we set up a series of all parties' meetings
to deal with the negotiation of the complex agreement over a matter
of weeks to focus the discussions and to ensure that all action
points were being dealt with.
the results:
Natural England and William Sinclairs were able to reach a
voluntary agreement which allows for the immediate phased cessation
of peat extraction at Bolton Fell and the immediate commencement of
restoration of 70 acres of the internationally important peat bog.
The voluntary agreement will also allow William Sinclairs to plan
for the necessary changes at Bolton Fell now that the period of
uncertainty has come to an end.