The River Humber (The Deep Tidal Stream Generator) Order 2011

PART 1 PRELIMINARY

Citation and commencement

1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the River Humber (The Deep Tidal Stream Generator) Order 2011.

(2) This Order comes into force on the date on which the notice required by section 14(1)(b) of the Transport and Works Act 1992(1) is first published.

Interpretation

2.—(1) In this Order—

“A. B. Ports” means Associated British Ports;

“authorised works” means the scheduled works, the works and facilities described in article 3(3) and any other works authorised by the Order;

“building” includes structure or any other erection or any part of a building, structure or erection;

“the level of high water” means the level of mean high water springs;

“the limits of deviation”, in relation to a work, means the limits of deviation related to that work which are shown on the works plans;

“maintain” includes inspect, maintain, repair, adjust, alter, remove, reconstruct and replace; and “maintenance” shall be construed accordingly;

“reference point” means Ordnance Survey National Grid reference point;

“river” means the river Humber;

“the scheduled works” means the works specified in Schedule 1 to this Order or any part of them;

“the sections” means the sections certified by the Secretary of State in accordance with article 19, unless the context otherwise requires;

“tidal stream generator” means the tidal stream generator described in paragraph 1 of Schedule 1 to this Order;

“tidal work” means so much of any authorised work as is on, under or over tidal waters or tidal lands below the level of high water;

“the undertaker” means Neptune Renewable Energy Limited or any person to whom the powers conferred by this Order are transferred in an agreement pursuant to article 20;

“vessel” means a ship, boat, raft or water craft of any description and includes a non-displacement craft, a seaplane, any other thing constructed or adapted for floating on or being submersed in water (whether permanently or temporarily) and any other amphibious vehicle;

“the works plans” means the plans certified by the Secretary of State in accordance with article 19, unless the context otherwise requires.

(2) All directions, distances, lengths and points stated in any description of works or powers shall be construed as if the words “or thereabouts” were inserted after each such direction, distance, length and point.

(3) Any reference in this Order to a work identified by the number of the work shall be construed as a reference to the work of that number authorised by this Order.

PART 2 WORKS

Principal powers

Power to construct and maintain works

3.—(1) The undertaker may construct and maintain the scheduled works.

(2) Subject to article 4, the scheduled works shall be constructed and maintained in the lines or situations shown on the works plans and in accordance with the levels shown on the sections.

(3) The undertaker may, within the limits of deviation for the scheduled works, carry out, provide and maintain such of the following works and facilities as may be necessary or expedient for the purposes of, in connection with, or in consequence of, the construction or maintenance of the scheduled works, namely—

(a) temporary or permanent landing places, jetties, or moorings or other means of accommodating vessels in the construction or maintenance of the scheduled works;

(b) buoys, beacons, fenders and other navigational warning or ship impact protection works;

(c) works to alter the position of apparatus, including cables;

(d) landscaping and other works to mitigate any adverse affects of the construction, maintenance or operation of the scheduled works;

(e) works for the benefit or protection of land affected by the scheduled works;

(f) such other works and apparatus, plant and machinery of whatever nature as may be necessary or expedient.

Power to deviate

4.  In constructing or maintaining any scheduled works, the undertaker may deviate—

(a) laterally from the lines or situations shown on the works plans to any extent within the limits of deviation; and

(b) vertically from the levels shown on the sections to any extent not exceeding two metres upwards and to any extent downwards.

Protection of navigation

Tidal works not to be executed without approval of the Secretary of State

5.—(1) A tidal work shall not be constructed or altered except in accordance with plans and sections approved by the Secretary of State and subject to any conditions and restrictions imposed by the Secretary of State before the work is begun.

(2) If a tidal work is constructed or altered in contravention of this article or any condition or restriction imposed under this article—

(a) the Secretary of State may by notice in writing require the undertaker at its own expense to remove the tidal work or any part of it and restore the site to its former condition; and

(b) if it appears to the Secretary of State urgently necessary so to do, he may remove the tidal work or part of it and restore the site to its former condition and any expenditure incurred by the Secretary of State in so doing shall be recoverable from the undertaker.

Provision against danger to navigation

6.—(1) In case of damage to, or destruction or decay of, a tidal work or any part thereof the undertaker shall as soon as reasonably practicable—

(a) notify A. B. Ports; and

(b) lay down such buoys, exhibit such lights and take such other steps for preventing danger to navigation as A. B. Ports may from time to time direct.

(2) If it appears to A. B. Ports urgently necessary to do so in order to secure the safe navigation of the river by all vessels, it may lay down such buoys and exhibit such lights and take such other steps for preventing danger to navigation as A. B. Ports may direct are reasonably necessary.

(3) Any expenditure incurred by A. B. Ports in consequence of it exercising powers under paragraph (2) shall be recoverable from the undertaker.

Abatement of works abandoned or decayed

7.—(1) Where a tidal work is abandoned, or suffered to fall into decay, the Secretary of State or A. B. Ports may by notice in writing require the undertaker at its own expense either to repair and restore the work or any part of it, or to remove the work and restore the site of the work to its former condition, to such an extent and within such limits as the Secretary of State or A. B. Ports may specify in the notice.

(2) Where a work consisting partly of a tidal work and partly of works on or over land above the level of high water is abandoned or suffered to fall into decay and that part of the work on or over land above the level of high water is in such condition as to interfere or to cause reasonable apprehension that it may interfere with the right of navigation or other public rights over the foreshore, the Secretary of State or A. B. Ports may include that part of the work, or any portion of it, in any notice under this article.

(3) This article shall not apply to any decommissioning of the authorised works in accordance with a marine licence granted under Part 4 of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 (2).

(4) If there is any inconsistency between any requirements of the Secretary of State and A. B. Ports under article 7(1) or (2) the requirement of the Secretary of State shall prevail.

Survey of tidal works

8.—(1) The Secretary of State may at any time, if he deems it expedient, order a survey and examination of a tidal work or of the site upon which it is proposed to construct the work, and any expenditure incurred by the Secretary of State in any such survey and examination shall be recoverable from the undertaker.

(2) Subject to paragraph (3) such surveys shall not be ordered more frequently than once a year, and before ordering such a survey the Secretary of State shall—

(a) consult the undertaker in order to establish what relevant survey information is already available; and

(b) give the undertaker an opportunity to carry out the survey itself.

(3) Paragraph (2) shall not apply in an emergency.

(4) Paragraphs (1) to (3) apply to A. B. Ports as if it were the Secretary of State.

(5) A. B. Ports’ annual survey of the river in the performance of its functions as navigation authority shall not be treated as a survey ordered by A. B. Ports under this article.

Permanent lights and navigational safety aids

9.  After the completion of the tidal works the undertaker shall exhibit every night from sunset to sunrise such lights, if any, and shall provide such markers, if any, and take such other steps for the prevention of danger to navigation as A. B. Ports may from time to time direct.

Lights on tidal works during construction

10.  The undertaker shall at or near a tidal work during the whole time of the construction, alteration, enlargement, replacement, relaying, reconstruction or extension of the work exhibit every night from sunset to sunrise such lights, if any, and take such other steps for the prevention of danger to navigation as A. B. Ports may from time to time direct.

Execution of works in default

11.—(1) If, on the expiration of 30 days from the date when a notice under article 5(2)(a) or 7(1) is served upon the undertaker it has failed, without reasonable excuse, to comply with the requirements of the notice, the Secretary of State or A. B. Ports (as the case may be) may execute the works specified in the notice.

(2) Any expenditure incurred by the Secretary of State or A. B. Ports (as the case may be) in so doing shall be recoverable from the undertaker.

Offences

12.  If the undertaker, without reasonable excuse, fails to—

(a) comply with a direction given under article 6, 9 or 10; or

(b) give notification as required by article 6, it shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

PART 3 MISCELLANEOUS AND GENERAL

Power to operate and use works

13.  Subject to article 15, the undertaker may operate and use the authorised works as a system for generating and transmitting electricity.

Disapplication of section 9 of the Humber Conservancy Act 1899 and section 6 of the Humber Conservancy Act 1905

14.  Section 9(ii) (licences for execution of works) of the Humber Conservancy Act 1899(3) and section 6(2) (no erections in Humber below river lines or without licence above river lines) of the Humber Conservancy Act 1905(4) shall not apply to the authorised works.

Removal of authorised works

15.  The undertaker shall remove—

(a) Work No. 1 (except that, in relation to the four piles, if it is not practicable for the undertaker to effect a full removal of these, it shall cut each of the piles to two metres below the bed level); and

(b) Work No. 2,

no later than three years after the date on which this Order is made and shall, subject to the exception in paragraph (a), restore the sites of the works to their former condition, subject to natural change.

Obstruction and misuse of authorised works

16.  Any person who without reasonable excuse—

(a) obstructs another person from constructing or maintaining any of the authorised works under the powers conferred by this Order;

(b) makes fast to any part of any tidal work; or

(c) in any other way interferes with any of the authorised works or their operation, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

Exclusion zone for navigation, trawling and anchoring

17.—(1) Subject to paragraph (3) there shall be a temporary exclusion zone (“exclusion zone”) extending to any waters within 75 metres of any part of Work No. 1 and Work No. 2 during the construction, relaying, replacement, removal or decommissioning of those works or any part of those works.

(2) Any person who without reasonable excuse navigates a vessel within an exclusion zone shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

(3) An exclusion zone shall not come into effect until seven days after the publication by A. B. Ports of a notice to mariners specifying—

(a) the date of publication of the notice; and

(b) the location and extent of the exclusion zone and its intended duration.

(4) The exclusion zone shall terminate on the completion of the construction, relaying, replacement, removal or decommissioning of the works to which it relates.

(5) As soon as reasonably practicable following the termination of an exclusion zone A. B. Ports shall publish notice of the termination by means of a notice to mariners.

(6) This article shall not apply to a person navigating a vessel within the exclusion zone for the purpose of, or in connection with, the construction, maintenance or operation of the authorised works.

Certain land to be treated as operational land

18.  Planning permission which is deemed by a direction under section 90(2A) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990(5) to be granted in relation to works authorised by this Order shall be treated as specific planning permission for the purposes of section 264(3)(a) of that Act (cases in which land is to be treated as operational land for the purposes of that Act).

Certification of plans, etc.

19.—(1) The undertaker shall, as soon as practicable after the making of this Order, submit to the Secretary of State copies of the works plans and sections sent to him with the application for this Order in accordance with rule 10(3) of the 2006 Rules.

(2) The Secretary of State shall, on receipt of such works plans and sections, certify that they are true copies of the works plans and sections so sent to him.

(3) A document so certified shall be admissible in any proceedings as evidence of the contents of the document of which it is a copy.

Transfer of powers

20.—(1) The undertaker may, with the consent of the Secretary of State, enter into, and carry into effect, agreements for the transfer to another person of all or any of the powers conferred on the undertaker by this Order.

(2) The exercise of any power conferred by this Order by any other person in accordance with an agreement under paragraph (1) shall be subject to the same obligations and liabilities under this Order as would apply if that power were exercised by the undertaker.

(3) Not later than 21 days before any such agreement comes into effect which provides for the transfer to another person of powers relating to any tidal works the undertaker shall give written notice to the Secretary of State and to A. B. Ports stating the name and address of the person to whom the powers are being transferred and the date when the transfer is to take effect.

For protection of A. B. Ports

21.  The provisions of Schedule 2 to this Order shall have effect.

Saving for Trinity House

22.  Nothing in this Order shall prejudice or derogate from any of the rights, duties or privileges of the Corporation of Trinity House of Deptford Strond.

Crown rights

23.—(1) Nothing in this Order affects prejudicially any estate, right, power, privilege, authority or exemption of the Crown, and in particular, nothing in this Order authorises the undertaker to take, use, enter upon or in any manner interfere with any land, hereditaments, or rights of whatsoever description (including any part of the shore or bed of the sea or any river, channel, creek, bay or estuary)—

(a) belonging to Her Majesty in right of Her Crown and under the management of the Crown Estate Commissioners, without the consent in writing of those Commissioners; or

(b) belonging to a government department or held in trust for Her Majesty for the purposes of a government department, without the consent in writing of that government department.

(2) A consent under paragraph (1) may be given unconditionally or subject to such conditions or upon such terms as may be considered necessary or appropriate.

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change

Giles Scott

Head of Development Consent and Planning Reform

21st July 2011