The Hornsea Four Offshore Wind Farm Order 2023

PART 6 E+W+S FOR THE PROTECTION OF DRAINAGE AUTHORITIES

1.  The provisions of this Part have effect for the protection of the drainage authority unless otherwise agreed in writing between the undertaker and the drainage authority. E+W+S

Commencement Information

I1 Sch. 9 Pt. 6 para. 1 in force at 3.8.2023, see art. 1

2.  In this Part of this Schedule— E+W+S

“construction” includes execution, placing, altering, replacing, relaying and removal and excavation and “construct” and “constructed” is to be construed accordingly;

“drainage authority” means in relation to an ordinary watercourse, the drainage board concerned within the meaning of section 23 (prohibition on obstructions etc. in watercourses) of the Land Drainage Act 1991(1);

“drainage work” means any ordinary watercourse and includes any bank, wall, embankment or other structure, or any appliance, constructed or used for land drainage or flood defence in connection with an ordinary watercourse which is the responsibility of the drainage authority;

“independent review” means a review carried out by a third party confirming the findings of the undertaker in the assessment of the impact of the proposed specified work on flood risk;

“ordinary watercourse” has the meaning given by section 72 (interpretation) of the Land Drainage Act 1991;

“plans” includes any information reasonably required by the drainage authority including location details, grid references, sections, drawings, specifications, assessments and method statements; and

“specified work” means so much of any work or operation authorised by this Order as is in, on, under over or within 9 metres of a drainage work and which comprises any of the following works carried out in relation to or which may affect any ordinary watercourse—

(a)

the erection of any mill, dam, weir, or other similar obstruction to the flow of an ordinary watercourse, or raising or otherwise altering any such obstruction;

(b)

the construction or installation of a bridge or other structure;

(c)

the erection of a culvert in an ordinary watercourse;

(d)

the alteration of an ordinary watercourse or a culvert or other form of drainage infrastructure in a manner that would be likely to affect the flow of an ordinary watercourse;

(e)

the introduction by means of any channel, siphon, pipeline or sluice or by any other means whatsoever any water into any ordinary watercourse within the Order limits so as to directly or indirectly increase the flow or volume of water in any ordinary watercourse within the Order limits without the previous consent of the drainage authority;

(f)

any work likely to obstruct flow or adversely affect the integrity of any embankment, wall or enclosing structure containing an ordinary watercourse.

Commencement Information

I2 Sch. 9 Pt. 6 para. 2 in force at 3.8.2023, see art. 1

3.—(1) Before commencing construction of a specified work, the undertaker must submit to the drainage authority plans of the specified work, including an independent review and such further particulars available to it as the drainage authority may within 14 days of the submission of the plans reasonably request. E+W+S

(2) The undertaker must not commence construction of the specified work until approval, unconditionally or conditionally, has been given as provided in this paragraph.

(3) A specified work must not be constructed except in accordance with such plans as may be approved in writing by the drainage authority or determined under paragraph 12.

(4) Any approval of the drainage authority required under this paragraph—

(a) must not be unreasonably withheld or delayed;

(b) is deemed to have been given if it is neither given nor refused within 56 days of the submission of the plans for approval, or submission of further particulars (where required by the drainage authority under sub–paragraph (1)) whichever is the later; and

(c) may be given subject to such reasonable requirements as the drainage authority may make for the protection of any drainage work, for the protection of any ordinary watercourse or for the prevention of flooding.

(5) Any refusal under this paragraph must be accompanied by a statement of the reasons for refusal.

Commencement Information

I3 Sch. 9 Pt. 6 para. 3 in force at 3.8.2023, see art. 1

4.  Without limiting paragraph 3, the requirements which the drainage authority may make under that paragraph include conditions requiring the undertaker at its own expense to construct such protective works, whether temporary or permanent, during the construction of the specified work (including the provision of flood banks, walls or embankments or other new works and the strengthening, repair or renewal of existing banks, walls or embankments) as are reasonably necessary— E+W+S

(a) to safeguard any drainage work against damage by reason of any specified work; or

(b) to secure that the efficiency of any drainage work for flood defence and land drainage purposes is not impaired, and that the risk of flooding is not otherwise increased, by reason of any specified work.

Commencement Information

I4 Sch. 9 Pt. 6 para. 4 in force at 3.8.2023, see art. 1

5.—(1) Subject to sub–paragraph (2), any specified work, and all protective works required by the drainage authority under paragraph 4, must be constructed— E+W+S

(a) without unreasonable delay in accordance with the plans approved or deemed to have been approved or settled under this Part of this Schedule; and

(b) to the reasonable satisfaction of the drainage authority, and an officer of the drainage authority is entitled to watch and inspect the construction of such works.

(2) The undertaker must give to the drainage authority—

(a) not less than 14 days’ notice in writing of its intention to commence construction of any specified work; and

(b) notice in writing of its completion not later than 7 days after the date of completion.

(3) If the drainage authority reasonably requires, the undertaker must construct all or part of the protective works so that they are in place before the construction of the specified work to which the protective works relate.

(4) If any part of a specified work or any protective work required by the drainage authority is constructed otherwise than in accordance with the requirements of this Part of this Schedule, the drainage authority may by notice in writing require the undertaker at the undertaker’s expense to comply with the requirements of this Part of this Schedule or (if the undertaker so elects and the drainage authority in writing consents, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) to remove, alter or pull down the work and, where removal is agreed, to restore the site to its former condition to such extent and within such limits as the drainage authority reasonably requires.

(5) Subject to sub–paragraph (6) and paragraphs 9 and 10, if within a reasonable period, being not less than 28 days from the date when a notice under sub–paragraph (4) is served on the undertaker, the undertaker has failed to begin taking steps to comply with the requirements of the notice and subsequently to make reasonably expeditious progress towards their implementation, the drainage authority may execute the works specified in the notice and any reasonable expenditure incurred by it in so doing is recoverable from the undertaker.

(6) In the event of any dispute as to whether sub-paragraph (4) is properly applicable to any work in respect of which notice has been served under that sub-paragraph, or as to the reasonableness of any requirement of such a notice, the drainage authority must not except in an emergency exercise the powers conferred by sub–paragraph (5) until the dispute has been finally determined in accordance with paragraph 12.

Commencement Information

I5 Sch. 9 Pt. 6 para. 5 in force at 3.8.2023, see art. 1

6.—(1) Subject to sub–paragraph (5), the undertaker must from the commencement of the construction of the specified work maintain in good repair and condition and free from obstruction any drainage work which is situated within the limits of deviation on land held by the undertaker for the purpose of or in connection with the specified work, whether or not the drainage work is constructed under the powers conferred by this Order or is already in existence. E+W+S

(2) If any drainage work which the undertaker is liable to maintain is not maintained to the reasonable satisfaction of the drainage authority, the drainage authority may by notice in writing require the undertaker to repair and restore the work, or any part of the work, or (if the undertaker so elects and the drainage authority in writing consents, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), to remove the specified work and restore the site to its former condition, to such extent and within such limits as the drainage authority reasonably requires.

(3) Subject to sub–paragraph (4) and paragraphs 9 and 10, if, within a reasonable period being not less than 28 days beginning with the date on which a notice in respect of any drainage work is served under sub–paragraph (2) on the undertaker, the undertaker has failed to begin taking steps to comply with the reasonable requirements of the notice and has not subsequently made reasonably expeditious progress towards their implementation, the drainage authority may do what is reasonably necessary for such compliance and may recover any reasonable expenditure reasonably incurred by it in so doing from the undertaker.

(4) In the event of any dispute as to the reasonableness of any requirement of a notice served under sub–paragraph (2), the drainage authority must not except in a case of emergency exercise the powers conferred by sub–paragraph (3) until the dispute has been finally determined in accordance with paragraph 12.

(5) This paragraph does not apply to—

(a) drainage works which are vested in the drainage authority, or which the drainage authority or another person is liable to maintain and is not prevented by this Order from so doing; and

(b) any obstruction of a drainage work for the purpose of a work or operation authorised by this Order and carried out in accordance with the provisions of this Part of this Schedule provided that any obstruction is removed as soon as reasonably practicable.

Commencement Information

I6 Sch. 9 Pt. 6 para. 6 in force at 3.8.2023, see art. 1

7.  Subject to paragraphs 9 and 10 and paragraph 6(5)(b), if by reason of the construction of any specified work or of the failure of any such work the efficiency of any drainage work for flood defence purposes or land drainage is impaired, or that drainage work is otherwise damaged, such impairment or damage must be made good by the undertaker to the reasonable satisfaction of the drainage authority and, if the undertaker fails to do so, the drainage authority may make good the impairment or damage and recover from the undertaker any expenditure incurred by the drainage authority in so doing from the undertaker. E+W+S

Commencement Information

I7 Sch. 9 Pt. 6 para. 7 in force at 3.8.2023, see art. 1

8.  If by reason of the construction of the specified work the drainage authority’s access to flood defences or equipment maintained for flood defence purposes is materially obstructed, the undertaker must provide such alternative means of access that will allow the drainage authority to maintain the flood defence or use the equipment no less effectively than was possible before the obstruction within 24 hours of the undertaker becoming aware of such obstruction. E+W+S

Commencement Information

I8 Sch. 9 Pt. 6 para. 8 in force at 3.8.2023, see art. 1

9.  The undertaker must make reasonable compensation for costs, charges and expenses which the drainage authority may reasonably incur— E+W+S

(a) in the examination or approval of plans under this Part of this Schedule;

(b) in the inspection of the construction of the specified works or any protective works required by the drainage authority under this Part of this Schedule; and

(c) in the carrying out of any surveys or tests by the drainage authority which are reasonably required in connection with the construction of the specified works.

Commencement Information

I9 Sch. 9 Pt. 6 para. 9 in force at 3.8.2023, see art. 1

10.—(1) The undertaker must make reasonable compensation for costs and losses which may be reasonably incurred or suffered by the drainage authority by reason of— E+W+S

(a) the construction of any specified work comprised within the authorised works; or

(b) any act or omission of the undertaker, its employees, contractors or agents or others whilst engaged upon the construction of the specified works.

(2) In sub–paragraph (1)—

“costs” includes—

(a)

expenses and charges;

(b)

staff costs and overheads; and

(c)

legal costs; and

“losses” includes physical damage.

(3) The undertaker must make reasonable compensation for liabilities, claims and demands against the drainage authority arising out of or in connection with the specified works or otherwise out of the matters referred to in sub–paragraphs (1)(a) and (1)(b).

(4) In sub–paragraph (3)—

“claims” and “demands” include as applicable—

(a)

costs (within the meaning of sub–paragraph (2)) incurred in connection with any claim or demand; and

(b)

any interest element of sums claimed or demanded; and

“liabilities” includes—

(a)

contractual liabilities;

(b)

tortious liabilities (including liabilities for negligence or nuisance);

(c)

liabilities to pay statutory compensation or for breach of statutory duty; and

(d)

liabilities to pay statutory penalties imposed on the basis of strict liability (but does not include liabilities to pay other statutory penalties).

(5) The drainage authority must give to the undertaker notice of any such claim or demand.

(6) The undertaker may at its own expense conduct all negotiations for the settlement of the same and any litigation that may arise therefrom.

(7) The drainage authority must not compromise or settle any such claim or make any admission which might be prejudicial to the claim without the agreement of the undertaker which agreement must not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.

(8) The drainage authority must, at all times take reasonable steps to prevent and mitigate any such claims, demands, proceedings, costs, damages, expenses or loss.

(9) The drainage authority must, at the request of the undertaker, afford all reasonable assistance for the purpose of contesting any such claim or action and is entitled to be repaid its reasonable expenses reasonably incurred in so doing.

Commencement Information

I10 Sch. 9 Pt. 6 para. 10 in force at 3.8.2023, see art. 1

11.  The fact that any work or thing has been executed or done by the undertaker in accordance with a plan approved or deemed to be approved by the drainage authority, or to its satisfaction, or in accordance with any directions or award of an arbitrator, does not relieve the undertaker from any liability under this Part of this Schedule. E+W+S

Commencement Information

I11 Sch. 9 Pt. 6 para. 11 in force at 3.8.2023, see art. 1

12.  Any dispute arising between the undertaker and the drainage authority under this Part of this Schedule, if the parties agree, is to be determined by arbitration under article 39 (arbitration), but otherwise is to be determined by the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero on a reference to them by the undertaker or the drainage authority, after notice in writing by one to the other. E+W+S

Commencement Information

I12 Sch. 9 Pt. 6 para. 12 in force at 3.8.2023, see art. 1

(1)

1991 c. 59.