17.—(1) Where any person suffers any loss by reason of the entry by the Ministry on any land owned or occupied by him, or by the construction of drainage works or sea defence works thereon, or by direct interference with any land belonging to him, the Ministry shall, subject to the provisions of this Order, pay to him reasonable compensation in respect of such loss, such compensation to be calculated in accordance with the following provisions of this Order.
(2) The Ministry may, before the carrying out of any drainage works or sea defence works, enter into an agreement with any person likely to suffer loss by reason of the carrying out of the works, whereby, in consideration of the carrying out of the works, the Ministry will be either wholly or partially exonerated from liability for payment of compensation in respect thereof, and the provisions of any such agreement shall bind that person and all the estate of that person, and any person deriving title under him in, to or over any land specified in the agreement.
(3) In lieu of awarding compensation, the Ministry may by agreement construct works or provide facilities to replace works or facilities which have been removed or impaired in the carrying out of drainage works or sea defence works; but, in the event of such construction or provision affording any additional or improved advantages, facilities or rights as compared with those existing prior to the carrying out of the drainage works or sea defence works, the Ministry may enter into an agreement with any person whereby a fair proportion of the cost incurred by the Ministry in connection with such construction or provision shall be borne by that person, and any sums so required to be borne shall be recoverable by the Ministry.
(4) Every claim for compensation under this Article—
(a)shall be made forthwith in writing to the Ministry, and such details of the claim as the Ministry may require shall be furnished in writing to the Ministry within such period as the Ministry may determine; and
(b)shall, in default of agreement, be heard and determined by the Lands Tribunal.
(5) In computing the amount of reasonable compensation, the Ministry may allow a sum in respect of the cost of the employment of any solicitor, and may allow a sum in respect of the cost of the employment of any engineer, surveyor or valuer, where the Ministry is satisfied that such employment has been necessarily and properly incurred in connection with the preparation of a claim for compensation, but, save as aforesaid, costs shall not be payable by the Ministry in respect of claims for compensation.