The Electricity (Northern Ireland) Order 1992

Acquisition of wayleaves N.I.

10.—(1) This paragraph applies where— N.I.

(a) for any purpose connected with the carrying on of the activities which he is authorised by his licence to carry on, it is necessary or expedient for a licence holder to install and keep installed an electric line on, under or over any land; and

(b) the owner or occupier of the land, having been given a notice under sub-paragraph (3),—

(i) has failed to give the wayleave before the end of that period; or

(ii) has given the wayleave subject to terms and conditions to which the licence holder objects;

and in this paragraph as it so applies “the necessary wayleave” means consent for the licence holder to install and keep installed the electric line on, under or over the land and to have access to the land for the purpose of inspecting, maintaining, adjusting, repairing or altering the electric line.

(2) This paragraph also applies where—

(a) for any purpose connected with the carrying on of the activities which he is authorised by his licence to carry on, it is necessary or expedient for a licence holder to keep an electric line installed on, under or over any land; and

(b) the owner or occupier of the land has given notice to the licence holder under paragraph 12(2) requiring him to remove the electric line;

and in this paragraph as it so applies “the necessary wayleave” means consent for the licence holder to keep the electric line installed on, under or over the land and to have access to the land for the purpose of inspecting, maintaining, adjusting, repairing or altering the electric line.

(3) The notice referred to in sub-paragraph (1)(b) shall—

(a) state the licence holder's intention to install an electric line;

(b) give a description of the nature of the line and of the position and manner in which it is intended to be installed; and

(c) require the owner or occupier of the land to give the necessary wayleave within a period (not being less than 21 days) specified in the notice.

(4) Subject to sub-paragraphs (5) to (7), the Department may, on the application of the licence holder, grant the necessary wayleave subject to such terms and conditions as the Department thinks fit; and a necessary wayleave so granted shall, unless previously terminated in accordance with a term contained in the wayleave, continue in force for such period as may be specified in the wayleave.

(5) Subject to sub-paragraph (6), the Department shall not grant a wayleave under sub-paragraph (4) in any case where—

(a) the land is covered by a dwelling, or will be so covered on the assumption that any planning permission which is in force is acted on; and

(b) the line is to be installed on or over the land.

(6) Sub-paragraph (5) shall not apply to any land in respect of which a wayleave has been given before the coming into operation of that sub-paragraph.

(7) Before granting a necessary wayleave, the Department shall afford—

(a) the occupier of the land; and

(b) where the occupier is not also the owner of the land, the owner,

an opportunity of being heard by a person appointed by the Department.

(8) A necessary wayleave granted under this paragraph shall bind any person who is at any time the owner or occupier of the land.

(9) Where in pursuance of a necessary wayleave granted under this paragraph a licence holder has erected on any land supports for an electric line, he shall be deemed to have an estate in that land for the purposes of section 40 of the Mineral Development Act (Northern Ireland) 1969F1 .

(10) In this paragraph “dwelling” means a building or part of a building occupied, or (if not occupied) last occupied or intended to be occupied, as a private dwelling and includes any garden, yard, outhouses and appurtenances belonging to or usually enjoyed with that building or part.

F1 1969 c. 35 (NI)