The Hinkley Point C (Nuclear Generating Station) Order 2013

Powers of acquisition

Compulsory acquisition of land

24.—(1) The undertaker may—

(a) acquire compulsorily so much of the land within the permanent limits and described in the book of reference as is required for the authorised project or to facilitate it, or as is incidental to it; and

(b) use any land so acquired for the purposes authorised by this Order or for any other purposes in connection with or ancillary to the undertaking.

(2) Nothing in paragraph (1) shall authorise the undertaker to acquire compulsorily—

(a) any of the land or interests in land specified in Schedule 10 (land or interests in or rights over land not to be acquired compulsorily) that are held by the party mentioned in the third column of that Schedule; or

(b) any rights over those lands that are held by that party,

but the undertaker may acquire by agreement any part of those lands, or any rights over them, and use them, for the purpose referred to in paragraph (1).

(3) This article is subject to article 30 (acquisition of subsoil only), article 32 (rights under or over streets) and article 48 (Crown rights).

Statutory authority to override easements and other rights

25.—(1) The carrying out or use of development authorised by this Order and the doing of anything else authorised by this Order is authorised for the purpose specified in section 158(2) of the 2008 Act (nuisance: statutory authority), notwithstanding that it involves—

(a) an interference with an interest or right to which this article applies; or

(b) a breach of a restriction as to user of land arising by virtue of contract.

(2) The undertaker shall pay compensation to any person whose land is injuriously affected by—

(a) an interference with an interest or right to which this article applies; or

(b) a breach of a restriction as to user of land arising by virtue of contract,

authorised by virtue of this Order and the operation of section 158 of the 2008 Act.

(3) The interests and rights to which this article applies are any easement, liberty, privilege, right or advantage annexed to land and adversely affecting other land, including any natural right to support.

(4) Subsection (2) of section 10 of the 1965 Act applies to paragraph (2) by virtue of section 152(5) of the 2008 Act (compensation in case where no right to claim in nuisance).

(5) Any rule or principle applied to the construction of section 10 of the 1965 Act shall be applied to the construction of paragraph (2) (with any necessary modifications).

Time limit for exercise of authority to acquire land compulsorily

26.—(1) After the end of the period of 5 years beginning on the day on which this Order is made—

(a) no notice to treat shall be served under Part 1 of the 1965 Act (which makes provision for compulsory acquisition under the Acquisition of Land Act 1981); and

(b) no declaration shall be executed under section 4 of the Compulsory Purchase (Vesting Declarations) Act 1981 as applied by article 29 (application of the Compulsory Purchase (Vesting Declarations) Act 1981)(1),

in respect of the acquisition by the undertaker of land for the authorised project under this Order.

(2) Subject to paragraph (3), the authority conferred by article 33 (temporary use of land for carrying out the authorised project) shall cease at the end of the period referred to in paragraph (1).

(3) Paragraph (2) shall not prevent the undertaker remaining in possession of land after the end of that period, if the land was entered and possession was taken before the end of that period.

Compulsory acquisition of rights

27.—(1) The undertaker may acquire compulsorily the new rights described in the book of reference and shown on the land plans.

(2) Subject to section 8 of the 1965 Act (provisions as to divided land), as substituted by article 31 (acquisition of part of certain properties), where the undertaker acquires an existing right over land under paragraph (1), the undertaker shall not be required to acquire a greater interest in that land.

(3) Schedule 11 (modification of compensation and compulsory purchase enactments for creation of new rights) has effect for the purpose of modifying the enactments relating to compensation and the provisions of the 1965 Act in their application in relation to the compulsory acquisition under this article of a right over land by the creation of a new right.

Private rights of way

28.—(1) Subject to the provisions of this article, all private rights of way over land subject to compulsory acquisition under this Order shall be extinguished—

(a) as from the date of acquisition of the land by the undertaker, whether compulsorily or by agreement; or

(b) on the date of entry on the land by the undertaker under section 11(1) of the 1965 Act (power of entry),

whichever is the earlier.

(2) Subject to the provisions of this article, all private rights of way over land owned by the undertaker which, being within the Order limits, is required for the purposes of this Order shall be extinguished on the appropriation of the land by the undertaker for any of those purposes.

(3) Subject to the provisions of this article, all private rights of way over land of which the undertaker takes temporary possession under this Order shall be suspended and unenforceable for as long as the undertaker remains in lawful possession of the land.

(4) Any person who suffers loss by the extinguishment or suspension of any private right of way under this article shall be entitled to compensation to be determined, in case of dispute, under Part 1 of the 1961 Act.

(5) This article does not apply in relation to any right of way to which section 138 of the 2008 Act (extinguishment of rights, and removal of apparatus, of statutory undertakers etc.) or article 35 (apparatus and rights of statutory undertakers in land acquired or used) applies.

(6) Paragraphs (1) to (3) shall have effect subject to—

(a) any notice given by the undertaker before—

(i) the completion of the acquisition of the land,

(ii) the undertaker’s appropriation of it,

(iii) the undertaker’s entry onto it, or

(iv) the undertaker’s taking temporary possession of it,

that any or all of those paragraphs shall not apply to any right of way specified in the notice; and

(b) any agreement made at any time between the undertaker and the person in or to whom the right of way in question is vested or belongs.

(7) If any such agreement as is referred to in paragraph (6)(b)—

(a) is made with a person in or to whom the right of way is vested or belongs; and

(b) is expressed to have effect also for the benefit of those deriving title from or under that person,

it shall be effective in respect of the persons so deriving title, whether the title was derived before or after the making of the agreement.

Application of the Compulsory Purchase (Vesting Declarations) Act 1981

29.—(1) The Compulsory Purchase (Vesting Declarations) Act 1981 shall apply as if this Order were a compulsory purchase order.

(2) The Compulsory Purchase (Vesting Declarations) Act 1981, as so applied, shall have effect with the following modifications.

(3) In section 3 (preliminary notices), for subsection (1) there shall be substituted—

“(1) Before making a declaration under section 4 with respect to any land which is subject to a compulsory purchase order, the acquiring authority shall include the particulars specified in subsection (3) in a notice which is—

(a) given to every person with a relevant interest in the land with respect to which the declaration is to be made (other than a mortgagee who is not in possession); and

(b) published in a local newspaper circulating in the area in which the land is situated. ”.

(4) In that section, in subsection (2), for “(1)(b)” there shall be substituted “(1)” and after “given” there shall be inserted “and published”.

(5) In that section, for subsections (5) and (6) there shall be substituted—

“(5) For the purposes of this section, a person has a relevant interest in land if—

(a) that person is for the time being entitled to dispose of the fee simple of the land, whether in possession or in reversion; or

(b) that person holds, or is entitled to the rents and profits of, the land under a lease or agreement, the unexpired term of which exceeds one month.”.

(6) In section 5 (earliest date for execution of declaration)—

(a) in subsection (1), after “publication” there shall be inserted “in a local newspaper circulating in the area in which the land is situated”; and

(b) subsection (2) shall be omitted.

(7) In section 7 (constructive notice to treat), in subsection (1)(a), the words “(as modified by section 4 of the Acquisition of Land Act 1981)” shall be omitted.

(8) References to the 1965 Act in the Compulsory Purchase (Vesting Declarations) Act 1981 shall be construed as references to the 1965 Act as applied by section 125 of the 2008 Act (application of compulsory acquisition provisions) to the compulsory acquisition of land under this Order.

Acquisition of subsoil only

30.—(1) The undertaker may acquire compulsorily so much of, or such rights in, the subsoil of the land referred to in paragraph (1) of article 24 as may be required for any purpose for which that land may be acquired under that provision instead of acquiring the whole of the land.

(2) Where the undertaker acquires any part of, or rights in, the subsoil of land under paragraph (1), the undertaker shall not be required to acquire an interest in any other part of the land.

(3) Paragraph (2) shall not prevent article 31 from applying where the undertaker acquires a cellar, vault, arch or other construction forming part of a house, building or manufactory.

Acquisition of part of certain properties

31.—(1) This article shall apply instead of section 8(1) of the 1965 Act (other provisions as divided land) (as applied by section 125 of the 2008 Act) where—

(a) a notice to treat is served on a person (“the owner”) under the 1965 Act (as so applied) in respect of land forming only part of a house, building or manufactory or of land consisting of a house with a park or garden (“the land subject to the notice to treat”); and

(b) a copy of this article is served on the owner with the notice to treat.

(2) In such a case, the owner may, within the period of 21 days beginning with the day on which the notice was served, serve on the undertaker a counter-notice objecting to the sale of the land subject to the notice to treat which states that the owner is willing and able to sell the whole (“the land subject to the counter-notice”).

(3) If no such counter-notice is served within that period, the owner shall be required to sell the land subject to the notice to treat.

(4) If such a counter-notice is served within that period, the question whether the owner shall be required to sell only the land subject to the notice to treat shall, unless the undertaker agrees to take the land subject to the counter-notice, be referred to the Lands Chamber of the Upper Tribunal (“the tribunal”).

(5) If on such a reference the tribunal determines that the land subject to the notice to treat can be taken—

(a) without material detriment to the remainder of the land subject to the counter-notice; or

(b) where the land subject to the notice to treat consists of a house with a park or garden, without material detriment to the remainder of the land subject to the counter-notice and without seriously affecting the amenity and convenience of the house,

the owner shall be required to sell the land subject to the notice to treat.

(6) If on such a reference the tribunal determines that only part of the land subject to the notice to treat can be taken—

(a) without material detriment to the remainder of the land subject to the counter-notice; or

(b) where the land subject to the notice to treat consists of a house with a park or garden, without material detriment to the remainder of the land subject to the counter-notice and without seriously affecting the amenity and convenience of the house,

the notice to treat shall be deemed to be a notice to treat for that part.

(7) If on such a reference the tribunal determines that—

(a) the land subject to the notice to treat cannot be taken without material detriment to the remainder of the land subject to the counter-notice; but

(b) the material detriment is confined to a part of the land subject to the counter-notice,

the notice to treat shall be deemed to be a notice to treat for the land to which the material detriment is confined in addition to the land already subject to the notice, whether or not the additional land is land which the undertaker is authorised to acquire compulsorily under this Order.

(8) If the undertaker agrees to take the land subject to the counter-notice, or if the tribunal determines that—

(a) none of the land subject to the notice to treat can be taken without material detriment to the remainder of the land subject to the counter-notice or, as the case may be, without material detriment to the remainder of the land subject to the counter-notice and without seriously affecting the amenity and convenience of the house; and

(b) the material detriment is not confined to a part of the land subject to the counter-notice,

the notice to treat shall be deemed to be a notice to treat for the land subject to the counter-notice whether or not the whole of that land is land which the undertaker is authorised to acquire compulsorily under this Order.

(9) Where, by reason of a determination by the tribunal under this article, a notice to treat is deemed to be a notice to treat for less land or more land than that specified in the notice, the undertaker may, within the period of 6 weeks beginning with the day on which the determination is made, withdraw the notice to treat; and, in that event, shall pay the owner compensation for any loss or expense occasioned to the owner by the giving and withdrawal of the notice, to be determined in case of dispute by the tribunal.

(10) Where the owner is required under this article to sell only part of a house, building or manufactory or of land consisting of a house with a park or garden, the undertaker shall pay the owner compensation for any loss sustained by the owner due to the severance of that part in addition to the value of the interest acquired.

Rights under or over streets

32.—(1) The undertaker may enter on and appropriate so much of the subsoil of, or air-space over, any street within the Order limits as may be required for the purposes of the authorised project and may use the subsoil or air-space for those purposes or any other purpose ancillary to the authorised project.

(2) Subject to paragraph (3), the undertaker may exercise any power conferred by paragraph (1) in relation to a street without being required to acquire any part of the street or any easement or right in the street.

(3) Paragraph (2) shall not apply in relation to—

(a) any subway or underground building; or

(b) any cellar, vault, arch or other construction in, on or under a street which forms part of a building fronting onto the street.

(4) Subject to paragraph (5), any person who is an owner or occupier of land appropriated under paragraph (1) without the undertaker acquiring any part of that person’s interest in the land, and who suffers loss as a result, shall be entitled to compensation to be determined, in case of dispute, under Part 1 of the 1961 Act.

(5) Compensation shall not be payable under paragraph (4) to any person who is an undertaker to whom section 85 of the 1991 Act (sharing cost of necessary measures) applies in respect of measures of which the allowable costs are to be borne in accordance with that section.

Temporary use of land for carrying out authorised project

33.—(1) The undertaker may, in connection with the carrying out of the authorised project—

(a) enter on and take temporary possession of the land specified in columns (1) and (2) of Schedule 12 (land of which temporary possession may be taken) for the purpose specified in relation to that land in column (3) of that Schedule;

(b) remove any buildings and vegetation from that land;

(c) construct temporary works (including the provision of means of access) and buildings on that land; and

(d) construct any works specified in relation to that land in column (3) of Schedule 12, or any other mitigation works.

(2) Not less than 14 days before entering on and taking temporary possession of land under this article the undertaker shall serve notice of the intended entry on the owners and occupiers of the land.

(3) The undertaker may not, without the agreement of the owners of the land, remain in possession of any land under this article after the end of the period of one year beginning with the date of completion of the part of the authorised project specified in relation to that land in column (4) of Schedule 12 (land of which temporary possession may be taken).

(4) Before giving up possession of land of which temporary possession has been taken under this article, the undertaker shall remove all temporary works and restore the land to the reasonable satisfaction of the owners of the land; but the undertaker shall not be required to replace a building removed under this article or restore the land on which any works have been constructed under paragraph (1)(d).

(5) The undertaker shall pay compensation to the owners and occupiers of land of which temporary possession is taken under this article for any loss or damage arising from the exercise in relation to the land of any power conferred by this article.

(6) Any dispute as to a person’s entitlement to compensation under paragraph (5), or as to the amount of the compensation, shall be determined under Part 1 of the 1961 Act.

(7) Nothing in this article shall affect any liability to pay compensation under section 152 of the 2008 Act (compensation in case where no right to claim in nuisance) or under any other enactment in respect of loss or damage arising from the carrying out of the authorised project, other than loss or damage for which compensation is payable under paragraph (5).

(8) The undertaker may not compulsorily acquire under this Order the land referred to in paragraph (1) except that the undertaker shall not be precluded from—

(a) acquiring new rights over any part of that land under article 27 (compulsory acquisition of rights); or

(b) acquiring any part of the subsoil (or rights in the subsoil) of that land under article 30.

(9) Where the undertaker takes possession of land under this article, the undertaker shall not be required to acquire the land or any interest in it.

(10) Section 13 of the 1965 Act (refusal to give possession to acquiring authority) shall apply to the temporary use of land pursuant to this article to the same extent as it applies to the compulsory acquisition of land under this Order by virtue of section 125 of the 2008 Act (application of compulsory acquisition provisions).

(11) Nothing in this article shall prevent the taking of temporary possession more than once in relation to any land specified in Schedule 12.

Temporary use of land for maintaining authorised project

34.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), at any time during the maintenance period relating to any part of the authorised project, the undertaker may—

(a) enter on and take temporary possession of any land within the Order limits if such possession is reasonably required for the purpose of maintaining the authorised project; and

(b) construct such temporary works (including the provision of means of access) and buildings on the land as may be reasonably necessary for that purpose.

(2) Paragraph (1) shall not authorise the undertaker to take temporary possession of—

(a) any house or garden belonging to a house; or

(b) any building (other than a house) if it is for the time being occupied.

(3) Not less than 28 days before entering on and taking temporary possession of land under this article the undertaker shall serve notice of the intended entry on the owners and occupiers of the land.

(4) The undertaker may only remain in possession of land under this article for so long as may be reasonably necessary to carry out the maintenance of the part of the authorised project for which possession of the land was taken.

(5) Before giving up possession of land of which temporary possession has been taken under this article, the undertaker shall remove all temporary works and restore the land to the reasonable satisfaction of the owners of the land.

(6) The undertaker shall pay compensation to the owners and occupiers of land of which temporary possession is taken under this article for any loss or damage arising from the exercise in relation to the land of the provisions of this article.

(7) Any dispute as to a person’s entitlement to compensation under paragraph (6), or as to the amount of the compensation, shall be determined under Part 1 of the 1961 Act.

(8) Nothing in this article shall affect any liability to pay compensation under section 10(2) of the 1965 Act or under any other enactment in respect of loss or damage arising from the maintenance of the authorised project, other than loss or damage for which compensation is payable under paragraph (6).

(9) Where the undertaker takes possession of land under this article, the undertaker shall not be required to acquire the land or any interest in it.

(10) Section 13 of the 1965 Act (refusal to give possession to acquiring authority) shall apply to the temporary use of land pursuant to this article to the same extent as it applies to the compulsory acquisition of land under this Order by virtue of section 125 of the 2008 Act (application of compulsory acquisition provisions).

(11) In this article “the maintenance period”, in relation to any part of the authorised project, means the period of 5 years beginning with the date on which that part of the authorised project is first opened for use.

Apparatus and rights of statutory undertakers in land acquired or used

35.—(1) Subject to the following provisions of this paragraph and article 37 (recovery of costs of new connection), sections 271 to 274 of the 1990 Act (power to extinguish rights of statutory undertakers, etc. and power of statutory undertakers etc. to remove or re-site apparatus) shall apply in relation to any land acquired under this Order, or which is held by the undertaker and is appropriated or used (or about to be used) by it for the purposes of the Order or for any connected purpose, and all such other provisions of that Act as apply for the purposes of those provisions (including sections 275 to 278, which contain provisions consequential to the extinguishment of any rights under sections 271 and 272, and sections 279(2) to (4), 280 and 282, which provide for the payment of compensation) shall have effect accordingly.

(2) In the provisions of the 1990 Act, as applied by paragraph (1), references to the appropriate Minister are references to the Secretary of State.

Apparatus and rights of statutory undertakers in stopped-up streets

36.—(1) Where a street is stopped up under article 15 (permanent stopping up of streets), any statutory utility whose apparatus is under, in, on, along or across the street shall have the same powers and rights in respect of that apparatus, subject to the provisions of this article, as if this Order had not been made.

(2) Where a street is stopped up under article 15, any statutory utility whose apparatus is under, in, on, over, along or across the street may, and if reasonably requested to do so by the undertaker shall—

(a) remove the apparatus and place it or other apparatus provided in substitution for it in such other position as the utility may reasonably determine and have power to place it; or

(b) provide other apparatus in substitution for the existing apparatus and place it in such position as described in sub-paragraph (a).

(3) Subject to the following provisions of this article, the undertaker shall pay to any statutory utility an amount equal to the cost reasonably incurred by the utility in or in connection with—

(a) the execution of the relocation works required in consequence of the stopping up of the street; and

(b) the doing of any other work or thing rendered necessary by the execution of the relocation works.

(4) If in the course of the execution of relocation works under paragraph (2)—

(a) apparatus of a better type, of greater capacity or of greater dimensions is placed in substitution for existing apparatus; or

(b) apparatus (whether existing apparatus or apparatus substituted for existing apparatus) is placed at a depth greater than the depth at which the existing apparatus was,

and the placing of apparatus of that type or capacity or of those dimensions or the placing of apparatus at that depth, as the case may be, is not agreed by the undertaker, or, in default of agreement, is not determined by arbitration to be necessary, then, if it involves cost in the execution of the relocation works exceeding that which would have been involved if the apparatus placed had been of the existing type, capacity or dimensions, or at the existing depth, as the case may be, the amount which, apart from this paragraph, would be payable to the statutory utility by virtue of paragraph (3) shall be reduced by the amount of that excess.

(5) For the purposes of paragraph (4)—

(a) an extension of apparatus to a length greater than the length of existing apparatus shall not be treated as a placing of apparatus of greater dimensions than those of the existing apparatus; and

(b) where the provision of a joint in a cable is agreed, or is determined to be necessary, the consequential provision of a jointing chamber or of a manhole shall be treated as if it also had been agreed or had been so determined.

(6) An amount which, apart from this paragraph, would be payable to a statutory utility in respect of works by virtue of paragraph (3) (and having regard, where relevant, to paragraph (4)) shall, if the works include the placing of apparatus provided in substitution for apparatus placed more than 7 years and 6 months earlier so as to confer on the utility any financial benefit by deferment of the time for renewal of the apparatus in the ordinary course, be reduced by the amount which represents that benefit.

(7) Paragraphs (3) to (6) shall not apply where the authorised project constitutes major highway works, major bridge works or major transport works for the purposes of Part 3 of the 1991 Act, but instead—

(a) the allowable costs of the relocation works shall be determined in accordance with section 85 of that Act (sharing of cost of necessary measures) and any regulations for the time being having effect under that section; and

(b) the allowable costs shall be borne by the undertaker and the statutory utility in such proportions as may be prescribed by any such regulations.

(8) In this article—

“apparatus” has the meaning given in Part 3 of the 1991 Act;

“relocation works” means work executed, or apparatus provided, under paragraph (2); and

“statutory utility” means a statutory undertaker for the purposes of the 1980 Act or a public communications provider as defined in section 151(1) of the Communications Act 2003(2) (interpretation).

Recovery of costs of new connections

37.—(1) Where any apparatus of a public utility undertaker or of a public communications provider is removed under article 35 any person who is the owner or occupier of premises to which a supply was given from that apparatus shall be entitled to recover from the undertaker compensation in respect of expenditure reasonably incurred by that person, in consequence of the removal, for the purpose of effecting a connection between the premises and any other apparatus from which a supply is given.

(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply in the case of the removal of a public sewer but where such a sewer is removed under article 35, any person who is—

(a) the owner or occupier of premises the drains of which communicated with that sewer; or

(b) the owner of a private sewer which communicated with that sewer,

shall be entitled to recover from the undertaker compensation in respect of expenditure reasonably incurred by that person, in consequence of the removal, for the purpose of making the drain or sewer belonging to that person communicate with any other public sewer or with a private sewerage disposal plant.

(3) This article shall not have effect in relation to apparatus to which article 36 (apparatus and rights of statutory undertakers in stopped-up streets) or Part 3 of the 1991 Act applies.

(4) In this article—

“public communications provider” has the meaning given in section 151(1) of the Communications Act 2003; and

“public utility undertaker” has the meaning given in section 329 of the 1980 Act.

(1)

1981 c. 66. Sections 2(3), 6(2) and 11(6) were amended by section 4 of, and paragraph 52 of Schedule 2 to, the Planning (Consequential Provisions) Act 1990 (c. 11). Sections 10 and 11 and Schedule 1 were amended by S.I. 2009/137. Section 15 was amended by sections 56 and 321(1) of, and Schedules 8 and 16 to, the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 (c. 17). Paragraph 1 of Schedule 2 was amended by section 76 of, and Part 2 of Schedule 9 to, the Housing Act 1988 (c. 50); section 161(4) of, and Schedule 19 to, the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 (c. 28); and sections 56 and 321(1) of, and Schedule 8 to, the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008. Paragraph 3 of Schedule 2 was amended by section 76 of, and Schedule 9 to, the Housing Act 1988 and section 56 of, and Schedule 8 to, the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008. Paragraph 2 of Schedule 3 was repealed by section 277 of, and Schedule 9 to, the Inheritance Tax Act 1984 (c. 51). There are other amendments to the 1981 Act which are not relevant to this Order.

(2)

2003 c. 21. There are amendments to this Act which are not relevant to this Order.