Explanatory note

Section 163 of the Greater London Authority Act 1999 prohibits Transport for London from granting a leasehold interest in operational land for a term of more than fifty years without the consent of the Secretary of State. Under section 164 of that Act, Transport for London is required to ensure that none of its subsidiaries does anything which Transport for London has no power to do (including anything which Transport for London has no power to do because the consent of the Secretary of State has not been obtained).

The land which is the subject of this Order comprises most of the station car park at Rickmansworth Station in Hertfordshire, which is operational land as defined in section 163(8) of the Greater London Authority Act 1999. The grant of a leasehold interest in that land for a term of more than fifty years therefore requires the consent of the Secretary of State. The land is currently vested in London Underground Limited, a subsidiary of Transport for London, and the grant of the leasehold interest will be made by that company.

By this Order the Secretary of State for Transport gives consent to Transport for London for the grant of a leasehold interest for a term of more than fifty years in the land which is the subject of the Order.

A condition has been attached to the Secretary of State’s consent to require Transport for London to secure that permanent car parking facilities are provided to replace the existing car park at Rickmansworth Station.

This should be done within a reasonable period following any development of the land which is the subject of this Order.

A full regulatory impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument because it has no impact on the costs of business.