PART 4Protection for utility undertakers
1. The provisions of this Part have effect for the protection of a utility undertaker unless otherwise agreed in writing between the undertaker and the utility undertaker in question.
2. In this Part—
“alternative apparatus” means alternative apparatus adequate to enable the utility undertaker in question to fulfil its statutory functions in a manner no less efficient than previously;
“apparatus”—
in the case of a utility undertaker within paragraph (a) of the definition of that term, means electric lines or electrical plant (as defined in the 1989 Act(1)) belonging to or maintained by the utility undertaker;
in the case of a utility undertaker within paragraph (b) of the definition of that term, means any mains, pipes or other apparatus belonging to or maintained by the utility undertaker for the purposes of gas supply;
in the case of a utility undertaker within paragraph (c) of the definition of that term, means—
mains, pipes or other apparatus belonging to, or maintained by, the utility undertaker for the purposes of water supply; and
any water mains or service pipes (or part of a water main or service pipe) that is the subject of an agreement to adopt made under section 51A of the Water Industry Act 1991(2);
in the case of a utility undertaker within paragraph (d) of the definition of that term—
means—
any drain or works vested in the sewerage undertaker under the Water Industry Act 1991; and
any sewer that is so vested or is the subject of a notice of intention to adopt given under section 102(4) of that Act(3) or an agreement to adopt made under section 104 of that Act; and
includes a sludge main, disposal main (within the meaning of section 219 of that Act) or sewer outfall and any manholes, ventilating shafts, pumps or other accessories forming part of any such sewer, drain or works,
and in each case includes any structure in which apparatus is or is to be lodged or that gives or will give access to apparatus;
“functions” includes powers and duties;
“in”, in a context referring to apparatus or alternative apparatus in land, includes a reference to apparatus or alternative apparatus under, over or on land;
“relevant undertaker” means—
in relation to works that are Project A works or associated development or ancillary works relating to Project A works, Optimus Wind;
in relation to works that are Project B works or associated development or ancillary works relating to Project B works, Breesea; and
in relation to works that are shared works or associated development or ancillary works relating to shared works, Optimus Wind and Breesea;
“utility undertaker” means—
for the area of the authorised development and, in relation to any apparatus, means the utility undertaker to whom it belongs or by whom it is maintained; but does not include—
Anglian Water Services Limited (company number 02366656);
Centrica plc (company number 03033654);
VPI Immingham LLP (registered number OC300980);
C.GEN Killingholme Limited (company number 06422434); or
the Hornsea One companies (as defined in Part 12).
3. This Part does not apply to apparatus in respect of which the relations between the undertaker and the utility undertaker are regulated by Part 3 of the 1991 Act.
4.—(1) Despite any provision in this Order or anything shown on the land plans the undertaker must not acquire any apparatus other than by agreement.
(2) The undertaker must not in the exercise of the powers in this Order acquire any right over, or occupy or use, all or any part of the electricity sub-station within the land shown numbered plot 510 on the land plans without the consent of the utility undertaker responsible for its operation.
(3) Consent for the purpose of sub-paragraph (2) must not be unreasonably withheld but may be granted subject to reasonable conditions.
5.—(1) If, in the exercise of the powers conferred by this Order, the undertaker acquires any interest in any land in which any apparatus is placed, the apparatus must not be removed under this Part, and any right of a utility undertaker to maintain the apparatus in the land must not be extinguished, until alternative apparatus has been constructed and is in operation to the reasonable satisfaction of the utility undertaker in question.
(2) If, for the purpose of executing any works in, on or under any land purchased, held, appropriated or used under this Order, the relevant undertaker requires the removal of any apparatus placed in that land, it must give to the utility undertaker in question written notice of that requirement, together with a plan and section of the work proposed, and of the proposed position of the alternative apparatus to be provided or constructed; and in that case (or if in consequence of the exercise of any of the powers conferred by this Order a utility undertaker reasonably needs to remove any of its apparatus) the relevant undertaker must, subject to sub-paragraph (3), afford to the utility undertaker the necessary facilities and rights for the construction of alternative apparatus in other land of the relevant undertaker and for the subsequent maintenance of that apparatus.
(3) If alternative apparatus or any part of such apparatus is to be constructed elsewhere than in other land of the relevant undertaker, or the relevant undertaker is unable to afford such facilities and rights as are mentioned in sub-paragraph (2), in the land in which the alternative apparatus or part of such apparatus is to be constructed, the utility undertaker in question must, on receipt of a written notice to that effect from the relevant undertaker, as soon as reasonably possible use its best endeavours to obtain the necessary facilities and rights in the land in which the alternative apparatus is to be constructed.
(4) Any alternative apparatus to be constructed in land of the relevant undertaker under this Part must be constructed in such manner and in such line or situation as may be agreed between the utility undertaker in question and the relevant undertaker or in default of agreement settled by arbitration in accordance with article 41.
(5) The utility undertaker in question must, after the alternative apparatus to be provided or constructed has been agreed or settled by arbitration in accordance with article 41, and after the grant to the utility undertaker of any such facilities and rights as are referred to in sub-paragraph (2) or (3), proceed without unnecessary delay to construct and bring into operation the alternative apparatus and subsequently to remove any apparatus required by the relevant undertaker to be removed under this Part.
(6) Despite anything in sub-paragraph (5), if the relevant undertaker gives notice in writing to the utility undertaker in question that it desires itself to execute any work to which this subparagraph applies, that work, instead of being executed by the utility undertaker, must be executed by the relevant undertaker without unnecessary delay under the superintendence, if given, and to the reasonable satisfaction of the utility undertaker.
(7) Sub-paragraph (6) applies to any part of any work necessary in connection with the construction of alternative apparatus, or the removal of apparatus required to be removed, as will take place in any land of the relevant undertaker.
(8) Nothing in sub-paragraph (6) authorises the relevant undertaker to execute the placing, installation, bedding, packing, removal, connection or disconnection of any apparatus, or execute any filling around the apparatus (where the apparatus is laid in a trench) within 300 millimetres of the apparatus.
6.—(1) Where, in accordance with this Part, the relevant undertaker affords to a utility undertaker facilities and rights for the construction and maintenance in land of the relevant undertaker of alternative apparatus in substitution for apparatus to be removed, those facilities and rights must be granted on such terms and conditions as may be agreed between the relevant undertaker and the utility undertaker in question or in default of agreement settled by arbitration in accordance with article 41.
(2) In settling those terms and conditions in respect of the alternative apparatus to be constructed, the arbitrator must—
(a)give effect to all reasonable requirements of the relevant undertaker for ensuring the safety and efficient operation of the electricity generating station and for securing any subsequent alterations or adaptations of the alternative apparatus that may be required to prevent interference with any proposed works of the relevant undertaker; and
(b)so far as it may be reasonable and practicable to do so in the circumstances of the particular case, give effect to the terms and conditions, if any, applicable to the apparatus constructed for which the alternative apparatus is to be substituted.
(3) If the facilities and rights to be afforded by the relevant undertaker in respect of any alternative apparatus, and the terms and conditions subject to which those facilities and rights are to be granted, are in the opinion of the arbitrator less favourable on the whole to the utility undertaker in question than the facilities and right enjoyed by it in respect of the apparatus to be removed and the terms and conditions to which those facilities and rights are subject, the arbitrator must make such provision for the payment of compensation by the relevant undertaker to that utility undertaker as appears to the arbitrator to be reasonable, having regard to all the circumstances of the particular case.
7.—(1) Not less than 28 days before commencing the execution of any works of the type referred to in paragraph 5(2) that are near to, or will or may affect, any apparatus the removal of which has not been required by the relevant undertaker under that sub-paragraph, the relevant undertaker must submit to the utility undertaker in question a plan, section and description of the works to be executed.
(2) The works must be executed only in accordance with the plan, section and description submitted under sub-paragraph (1) and in accordance with such reasonable requirements as may be made in accordance with sub-paragraph (3) by the utility undertaker for the alteration or otherwise for the protection of the apparatus, or for securing access to it; and an officer of the utility undertaker is entitled to watch and inspect the execution of those works.
(3) Any requirements made by the utility undertaker under sub-paragraph (2) must be made within a period of 21 days beginning with the date on which a plan, section and description under sub-paragraph (1) are submitted to it.
(4) If a utility undertaker in accordance with sub-paragraph (3) and in consequence of the works proposed by the relevant undertaker, reasonably requires the removal of any apparatus and gives written notice to the relevant undertaker of that requirement, paragraphs 5 and 6 apply as if the removal of the apparatus had been required by the relevant undertaker under paragraph 5(2).
(5) Nothing in this paragraph precludes the relevant undertaker from submitting at any time or from time to time, but in no case less than 28 days before commencing the execution of any works, a new plan, section and description instead of the plan, section and description previously submitted, and having done so the provisions of this paragraph apply to and in respect of the new plan, section and description.
(6) The relevant undertaker is not required to comply with sub-paragraph (1) in a case of emergency, but in that case it must give to the utility undertaker in question notice as soon as is reasonably practicable and a plan, section and description of those works as soon as reasonable practicable subsequently and must comply with sub-paragraph (2) in so far as is reasonably practicable in the circumstances.
8. If in consequence of the exercise of the powers conferred by this Order the access to any apparatus is materially obstructed, the relevant undertaker must provide such alternative means of access to such apparatus as will enable the utility undertaker to maintain or use the apparatus no less effectively than was possible before the obstruction.
9.—(1) Subject to the following provisions of this paragraph, the relevant undertaker must pay to a utility undertaker the reasonable expenses incurred by the utility undertaker in, or in connection with, the inspection, removal, alteration or protection of any apparatus or the construction of any new apparatus that may be required in consequence of the execution of any works referred to in paragraph 5(2).
(2) The value of any apparatus removed under this Part must be deducted from any sum payable under sub-paragraph (1), that value being calculated after removal.
(3) If in accordance with this Part—
(a)apparatus of better type, of greater capacity or of greater dimensions is placed in substitution for existing apparatus of worse type, of smaller capacity or of smaller dimensions; 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 those dimensions or the placing of apparatus at that depth, as the case may be, is not agreed by the relevant undertaker or, in default of agreement, is not determined by arbitration in accordance with article 41 to be necessary, then, if such placing involves cost in the construction of works under this Part 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 that apart from this sub-paragraph would be payable to the utility undertaker in question by virtue of sub-paragraph (1) must be reduced by the amount of that excess.
(4) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (3)—
(a)an extension of apparatus to a length greater than the length of existing apparatus must not be treated as 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 must be treated as if it also had been agreed or had been so determined.
(5) An amount which, apart from this sub-paragraph, would be payable to a utility undertaker in respect of works by virtue of sub-paragraph (1) must, 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 undertaker 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.
10.—(1) Subject to sub-paragraphs (2) and (3), if by reason or in consequence of the construction of any works referred to in paragraph 5(2), any damage is caused to any apparatus (other than apparatus the repair of which is not reasonably necessary in view of its intended removal for the purposes of those works) or property of a utility undertaker, or there is any interruption in any service provided, or in the supply of any goods, by any utility undertaker, the relevant undertaker must—
(a)bear and pay the cost reasonably incurred by that utility undertaker in making good such damage or restoring the supply; and
(b)make reasonable compensation to that utility undertaker for any other expenses, loss, damages, penalty or costs incurred by the utility undertaker,
by reason or in consequence of any such damage or interruption.
(2) Nothing in sub-paragraph (1) imposes any liability on the relevant undertaker with respect to any damage or interruption to the extent that it is attributable to the act, neglect or default of a utility undertaker, its officers, servants, contractors or agents.
(3) A utility undertaker must give the relevant undertaker reasonable notice of any claim or demand, and no settlement or compromise may be made without the consent of the relevant undertaker, which, if it withholds such consent, has the sole conduct of any settlement or compromise or of any proceedings necessary to resist the claim or demand.
See section 64. The definition of “electrical plant” was amended by paragraph 38(3) of Schedule 6 to the Utilities Act 2000 (c.27).
Section 51A was inserted by section 92(1) of the Water Act 2003.
Section 102(4) was amended by section 96 of the Water Act 2003. Section 104 was amended by section 96 of, and Part 3 of Schedule 9 to, the Water Act 2003 and by section 42(3) of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010.
1986 c.44. “Gas transporter” is defined in section 7. A new section 7 was substituted by section 5 of the Gas Act 1995 (c.45) and was further amended by section 76 of the Utilities Act 2000.
“Water undertaker” is defined in Schedule 1 to the Interpretation Act 1978.