The National Grid (North London Reinforcement Project) Order 2014

PART 5 POWERS OF ACQUISITION

Compulsory acquisition of land

22.—(1) The undertaker may acquire compulsorily so much of the Order land specified in columns (1) and (2) of Schedule 9 (land to be acquired compulsorily) as is required for the construction, operation and maintenance of the authorised development or is incidental to the authorised development or necessary to facilitate it or is required as replacement land.

(2) This article is subject to paragraph (2) of article 25 (compulsory acquisition of rights) and article 31 (temporary use of land for carrying out the authorised development).

Compulsory acquisition of land – incorporation of the mineral code

23.  Parts 2 and 3 of Schedule 2 to the Acquisition of Land Act 1981 (minerals) are incorporated into this Order subject to the modifications that—

(a) paragraph 8(3) is not incorporated; and

(b) for “the acquiring authority” substitute “the undertaker”.

Time limit for exercise of authority to acquire land compulsorily

24.—(1) After the end of the period of 5 years beginning on the day on which the Order is made—

(a) no notice to treat shall be served under Part 1 of the 1965 Act; and

(b) no declaration shall be executed under section 4 of the 1981 Act as applied by article 27 (application of 1981 Act).

(2) The authority conferred by article 31 (temporary use of land for carrying out the authorised development) shall cease at the end of the period referred to in paragraph (1), save that nothing in this article shall prevent the undertaker remaining in possession of land after the end of that period, if the land was entered and possession was taken before the end of that period.

Compulsory acquisition of rights

25.—(1) The undertaker may acquire compulsorily such rights over the Order land, or impose restrictive covenants affecting the Order land, as may be required for the construction, operation and maintenance of the authorised development or is incidental to the authorised development or necessary to facilitate it by creating them as well as by acquiring rights and the benefit of restrictive covenants already in existence.

(2) Subject to section 8 of the 1965 Act as substituted by paragraph 5 of Schedule 10 (modification of compensation and compulsory purchase enactments for creation of new rights) where the undertaker acquires a right over land or the benefit of a restrictive covenant under paragraph (1) the undertaker shall not be required to acquire a greater interest in that land.

(3) Schedule 10 shall have effect for the purpose of modifying the enactments relating to compensation and the provisions of the 1965 Act in their application in relation to the compulsory acquisition under this article of a right over land by the creation of a new right or the imposition of a restrictive covenant.

Private rights

26.—(1) Subject to the provisions of this article, all private rights and restrictive covenants over land subject to compulsory acquisition under this Order shall be extinguished—

(a) as from the date of acquisition of the land by the undertaker, whether compulsorily or by agreement; or

(b) on the date of entry on the land by the undertaker under section 11(1) of the 1965 Act (power of entry),

whichever is the earliest.

(2) Subject to the provisions of this article, all private rights and restrictive covenants over Order land owned by the undertaker shall be extinguished on the commencement of any activity authorised by this Order which would otherwise interfere with or breach such rights or such restrictive covenants.

(3) Subject to the provisions of this article, all private rights or restrictive covenants over land subject to the compulsory acquisition of rights or the imposition of restrictive covenants under the Order shall be extinguished in so far as their continuance would be inconsistent with the exercise of the right acquired or the burden of the restrictive covenant imposed—

(a) as from the date of the acquisition of the right or the benefit of the restrictive covenant by the undertaker, whether compulsorily or by agreement; or

(b) on the date of entry on the land by the undertaker under section 11(1) of the 1965 Act in pursuance of the right,

whichever is the earliest.

(4) Subject to the provisions of this article, all private rights or restrictive covenants over land of which the undertaker takes temporary possession under this Order shall be suspended and unenforceable for as long as the undertaker remains in lawful possession of the land.

(5) Any person who suffers loss by the extinguishment or suspension of any private right or restrictive covenant under this article shall be entitled to compensation to be determined, in case of dispute, under Part 1 of the 1961 Act.

(6) This article does not apply in relation to any right to which section 138 of the 2008 Act (extinguishment of rights, and removal of apparatus, of statutory undertakers etc.) or article 34 (statutory undertakers) applies.

(7) Paragraphs (1) to (3) shall have effect subject to—

(a) any notice given by the undertaker before—

(i) the completion of the acquisition of the land or the acquisition of rights or the imposition of restrictive covenants over or affecting the land;

(ii) the undertaker’s appropriation of it;

(iii) the undertaker’s entry onto it; or

(iv) the undertaker’s taking temporary possession of it,

that any or all of those paragraphs shall not apply to any right specified in the notice; and

(b) any agreement made, in so far as it relates to the authorised development, at any time between the undertaker and the person in or to whom the right or the benefit of the restrictive covenant in question is vested, belongs or benefits.

(8) If any such agreement as is referred to in paragraph (7)(b)—

(a) is made with a person in or to whom the right or the benefit of the restrictive covenant is vested or belongs; and

(b) is expressed to have effect also for the benefit of those deriving title from or under that person,

it shall be effective in respect of the persons so deriving title, whether the title was derived before or after the making of the agreement.

(9) Reference in this article to private rights over land includes any trust, incident, easement, liberty, privilege, right or advantage annexed to land and adversely affecting other land, including any natural right to support.

Application of the Compulsory Purchase (Vesting Declarations) Act 1981

27.—(1) The 1981 Act shall apply as if this Order were a compulsory purchase order.

(2) The 1981 Act, as so applied, shall have effect with the following modifications.

(3) In section 3 (preliminary notices)—

(a) for subsection (1) there shall be substituted—

“(1) Before making a declaration under section 4 with respect to any land which is subject to a compulsory purchase order the acquiring authority shall include the particulars specified in subsection (3) in a notice which is—

(a) given to every person with a relevant interest in the land with respect to which the declaration is to be made (other than a mortgagee who is not in possession); and

(b) published in a local newspaper circulating in the area in which the land is situated.”;

(b) in subsection (2), for “(1)(b)” there shall be substituted “(1)” and after “given” there shall be inserted “and published”;

(c) for subsections (5) and (6) there shall be substituted—

“(5) For the purposes of this section, a person has a relevant interest in land if—

(a) that person is for the time being entitled to dispose of the fee simple of the land, whether in possession or in reversion; or

(b) that person holds, or is entitled to the rents and profits of, the land under a lease or agreement, the unexpired term of which exceeds one month.”.

(4) In section 5 (earliest date for execution of declaration)—

(a) in subsection (1), after “publication” there shall be inserted “in a local newspaper circulating in the area in which the land is situated”; and

(b) subsection (2) shall be omitted.

(5) In section 7 (constructive notice to treat), in subsection (1)(a), the words “(as modified by section 4 of the Acquisition of Land Act 1981)” shall be omitted.

(6) References to the 1965 Act in the 1981 Act shall be construed as references to the 1965 Act as applied by section 125 of the 2008 Act to the compulsory acquisition of land under this Order.

Acquisition of subsoil or airspace only

28.—(1) The undertaker may acquire compulsorily so much of, or such rights in, the subsoil of, or the airspace over, the land referred to in article 22 (compulsory acquisition of land) as may be required for any purpose for which that land may be acquired under that provision instead of acquiring the whole of the land.

(2) Where the undertaker acquires any part of, or rights in, the subsoil of or the airspace over land under paragraph (1), the undertaker shall not be required to acquire an interest in any other part of the land.

(3) Paragraph (2) shall not prevent article 29 (acquisition of part of certain properties) from applying where the undertaker acquires a cellar, vault, arch or other construction forming part of a house, building or manufactory.

Acquisition of part of certain properties

29.—(1) This article shall apply instead of section 8(1) of the 1965 Act (other provisions as divided land) (as applied by section 125 of the 2008 Act) where—

(a) a notice to treat is served on a person (“the owner”) under the 1965 Act (as so applied) in respect of land forming only part of a house, building or manufactory or of land consisting of a house with a park or garden (“the land subject to the notice to treat”); and

(b) a copy of this article is served on the owner with the notice to treat.

(2) In such a case, the owner may, within the period of 21 days beginning with the day on which the notice was served, serve on the undertaker a counter-notice objecting to the sale of the land subject to the notice to treat and stating that the owner is willing and able to sell the whole (“the land subject to the counter-notice”).

(3) If no such counter-notice is served within that period, the owner shall be required to sell the land subject to the notice to treat.

(4) If such a counter-notice is served within that period, the question whether the owner shall be required to sell only the land subject to the notice to treat shall, unless the undertaker agrees to take the land subject to the counter-notice, be referred to the tribunal.

(5) If on such a reference the tribunal determine that the land subject to the notice to treat can be taken—

(a) without material detriment to the remainder of the land subject to the counter-notice; or

(b) where the land subject to the notice to treat consists of a house with a park or garden, without material detriment to the remainder of the land subject to the counter-notice and without seriously affecting the amenity and convenience of the house,

the owner shall be required to sell the land subject to the notice to treat.

(6) If on such a reference the tribunal determine that only part of the land subject to the notice to treat can be taken—

(a) without material detriment to the remainder of the land subject to the counter-notice; or

(b) where the land subject to the notice to treat consists of a house with a park or garden, without material detriment to the remainder of the land subject to the counter-notice and without seriously affecting the amenity and convenience of the house,

the notice to treat shall be deemed to be a notice to treat for that part.

(7) If on such a reference the tribunal determine that—

(a) the land subject to the notice to treat cannot be taken without material detriment to the remainder of the land subject to the counter-notice; but

(b) the material detriment is confined to a part of the land subject to the counter-notice,

the notice to treat shall be deemed to be a notice to treat for the land to which the material detriment is confined in addition to the land already subject to the notice, whether or not the additional land is land which the undertaker is authorised to acquire compulsorily under this Order.

(8) If the undertaker agrees to take the land subject to the counter-notice, or if the tribunal determine that—

(a) none of the land subject to the notice to treat can be taken without material detriment to the remainder of the land subject to the counter-notice or, as the case may be, without material detriment to the remainder of the land subject to the counter-notice and without seriously affecting the amenity and convenience of the house; and

(b) the material detriment is not confined to a part of the land subject to the counter-notice,

the notice to treat shall be deemed to be a notice to treat for the land subject to the counter-notice whether or not the whole of that land is land which the undertaker is authorised to acquire compulsorily under this Order.

(9) Where by reason of a determination by the tribunal under this article a notice to treat is deemed to be a notice to treat for less land or more land than that specified in the notice, the undertaker may, within the period of 6 weeks beginning with the day on which the determination is made, withdraw the notice to treat; and, in that event, shall pay the owner compensation for any loss or expense occasioned to the owner by the giving and withdrawal of the notice, to be determined in case of dispute by the tribunal.

(10) Where the owner is required under this article to sell only part of a house, building or manufactory or of land consisting of a house with a park or garden, the undertaker shall pay the owner compensation for any loss sustained by the owner due to the severance of that part in addition to the value of the interest acquired.

Rights under or over streets

30.—(1) The undertaker may enter on and appropriate so much of the subsoil of, or air-space over, any street within the Order limits as may be required for the purposes of the authorised development and may use the subsoil or air-space for those purposes or any other purpose ancillary to the authorised development.

(2) Subject to paragraph (3), the undertaker may exercise any power conferred by paragraph (1) in relation to a street without being required to acquire any part of the street or any easement or right in the street.

(3) Paragraph (2) shall not apply in relation to—

(a) any subway or underground building; or

(b) any cellar, vault, arch or other construction in, on or under a street which forms part of a building fronting onto the street.

(4) Subject to paragraph (5), any person who is an owner or occupier of land appropriated under paragraph (1) without the undertaker acquiring any part of that person’s interest in the land, and who suffers loss as a result, shall be entitled to compensation to be determined, in case of dispute, under Part 1 of the 1961 Act.

(5) Compensation shall not be payable under paragraph (4) to any person who is an undertaker to whom section 85 of the 1991 Act (sharing cost of necessary measures) applies in respect of measures of which the allowable costs are to be borne in accordance with that section.

Temporary use of land for carrying out the authorised development

31.—(1) The undertaker may, in connection with the carrying out of the authorised development—

(a) enter on and take temporary possession of—

(i) the land specified in columns (1) and (2) of Schedule 11 (land of which temporary possession may be taken) for the purpose specified in relation to that land in column (3) of that Schedule relating to the part of the authorised development specified in column (4) of that Schedule; and

(ii) any of the Order land in respect of which no notice of entry has been served under section 11 of the 1965 Act (other than in connection with the acquisition of rights only) and no declaration has been made under section 4 of the 1981 Act;

(b) remove any buildings and vegetation from that land;

(c) construct temporary works (including the provision of means of access) and buildings on that land; and

(d) construct any works specified in relation to that land in column (3) of Schedule 11, or any other mitigation works.

(2) Not less than 14 days before entering on and taking temporary possession of land under this article the undertaker shall serve notice of the intended entry on the owners and occupiers of the land.

(3) The undertaker may not, without the agreement of the owners of the land, remain in possession of any land under this article—

(a) in the case of land specified in paragraph (1)(a)(i), after the end of the period of one year beginning with the date of completion of the part of the authorised development specified in relation to that land in column (4) of Schedule 11, or

(b) in the case of any land referred to in paragraph (1)(a)(ii), after the end of the period of one year beginning with the date of completion of the work for which temporary possession of the land was taken unless the undertaker has, by the end of that period, served a notice of entry under section 11 of the 1965 Act or made a declaration under section 4 of the 1981 Act in relation to that land.

(4) Before giving up possession of land of which temporary possession has been taken under this article, the undertaker shall remove all temporary works and restore the land to the reasonable satisfaction of the owners of the land; but the undertaker shall not be required to replace a building removed under this article.

(5) The undertaker shall pay compensation to the owners and occupiers of land of which temporary possession is taken under this article for any loss or damage arising from the exercise in relation to the land of the provisions of this article.

(6) Any dispute as to a person’s entitlement to compensation under paragraph (5), or as to the amount of the compensation, shall be determined under Part 1 of the 1961 Act.

(7) Nothing in this article shall affect any liability to pay compensation under section 152 of the 2008 Act (compensation in case where no right to claim in nuisance) or under any other enactment in respect of loss or damage arising from the carrying out of the authorised development, other than loss or damage for which compensation is payable under paragraph (5).

(8) The undertaker may not compulsorily acquire under this Order the land referred to in paragraph (1)(a)(i) except that the undertaker shall not be precluded from—

(a) acquiring new rights or imposing restrictive covenants over any part of that land under article 25 (compulsory acquisition of rights); or

(b) acquiring any part of the subsoil or of airspace over (or rights in the subsoil or of airspace over) that land under article 28 (acquisition of subsoil or airspace only).

(9) Where the undertaker takes possession of land under this article, the undertaker shall not be required to acquire the land or any interest in it.

(10) Section 13 of the 1965 Act (refusal to give possession to acquiring authority) shall apply to the temporary use of land pursuant to this article to the same extent as it applies to the compulsory acquisition of land under this Order by virtue of section 125 of the 2008 Act (application of compulsory acquisition provisions).

Temporary use of land for maintaining the authorised development

32.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2) the undertaker may—

(a) enter upon and take temporary possession of any land within the Order limits if such possession is reasonably required for the purpose of maintaining the authorised development; and

(b) construct such temporary works (including the provision of means of access) and buildings on the land as may be reasonably necessary for that purpose.

(2) Paragraph (1) shall not authorise the undertaker to take temporary possession of—

(a) any house or garden belonging to a house; or

(b) any building (other than a house) if it is for the time being occupied.

(3) Not less than 28 days before entering upon and taking temporary possession of land under this article the undertaker shall serve notice of the intended entry on the owners and occupiers of the land.

(4) The undertaker may only remain in possession of land under this article for so long as may be reasonably necessary to carry out the maintenance of the part of the authorised development for which possession of the land was taken.

(5) Before giving up possession of land of which temporary possession has been taken under this article, the undertaker shall remove all temporary works and restore the land to the reasonable satisfaction of the owners of the land.

(6) The undertaker shall pay compensation to the owners and occupiers of land of which temporary possession is taken under this article for any loss or damage arising from the exercise in relation to the land of the powers conferred by this article.

(7) Any dispute as to a person’s entitlement to compensation under paragraph (6), or as to the amount of the compensation, shall be determined under Part 1 of the 1961 Act.

(8) Nothing in this article shall affect any liability to pay compensation under section 152 of the 2008 Act (compensation in case where no right to claim in nuisance) or under any other enactment in respect of loss or damage arising from the maintenance of the authorised development, other than loss or damage for which compensation is payable under paragraph (6).

(9) Where the undertaker takes possession of land under this article, the undertaker shall not be required to acquire the land or any interest in it.

(10) Section 13 of the 1965 Act (refusal to give possession to the acquiring authority) shall apply to the temporary use of land pursuant to this article to the same extent as it applies to the compulsory acquisition of land under this Order by virtue of section 125 of the 2008 Act (application of compulsory acquisition provisions).

Special category land

33.—(1) The special category land shall not vest in the undertaker until the undertaker has acquired the replacement land and the Secretary of State has certified that a scheme for the provision of the replacement land as open space has been implemented to the Secretary of State’s satisfaction.

(2) On the requirements of paragraph (1) being satisfied, the replacement land shall vest in the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority subject to the same rights, trusts and incidents as attached to the special category land; and the special category land shall be discharged from all rights, trusts and incidents to which it was previously subject.

(3) In this article, “the special category land” means the land identified as forming part of a common, open space, or fuel or field allotment in the book of reference and on the special category land/replacement land plans, which may be acquired compulsorily under this Order.

Statutory undertakers

34.  Subject to the provisions of Schedule 13 (protective provisions), the undertaker may—

(a) acquire compulsorily the land belonging to statutory undertakers shown on the land plans within the limits of the land to be acquired and described in the book of reference;

(b) extinguish the rights of, remove or reposition the apparatus belonging to statutory undertakers over or within the Order land; and

(c) acquire compulsorily the new rights or impose restrictive covenants over land belonging to statutory undertakers shown on the land plans and described in the book of reference.

Apparatus and rights of statutory undertakers in stopped-up streets

35.—(1) Where a street is stopped up under article 12 (permanent stopping up of streets) any statutory utility whose apparatus is under, in, on, along or across the street shall have the same powers and rights in respect of that apparatus, subject to the provisions of this article, as if this Order had not been made.

(2) Where a street is stopped up under article 12 any statutory utility whose apparatus is under, in, on, over, along or across the street may, and if reasonably requested to do so by the undertaker shall—

(a) remove the apparatus and place it or other apparatus provided in substitution for it in such other position as the utility may reasonably determine and have power to place it; or

(b) provide other apparatus in substitution for the existing apparatus and place it in such position as described in sub-paragraph (a).

(3) Subject to the following provisions of this article, the undertaker shall pay to any statutory utility an amount equal to the cost reasonably incurred by the utility in or in connection with—

(a) the execution of the relocation works required in consequence of the stopping up of the street; and

(b) the doing of any other work or thing rendered necessary by the execution of the relocation works.

(4) If in the course of the execution of relocation works under paragraph (2)—

(a) apparatus of a better type, of greater capacity or of greater dimensions is placed in substitution for existing apparatus; 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 of those dimensions or the placing of apparatus at that depth, as the case may be, is not agreed by the undertaker, or, in default of agreement, is not determined by arbitration to be necessary, then, if it involves cost in the execution of the relocation works 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 which, apart from this paragraph, would be payable to the statutory utility by virtue of paragraph (3) shall be reduced by the amount of that excess.

(5) For the purposes of paragraph (4)—

(a) an extension of apparatus to a length greater than the length of existing apparatus shall not be treated as a 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 shall be treated as if it also had been agreed or had been so determined.

(6) An amount which, apart from this paragraph, would be payable to a statutory utility in respect of works by virtue of paragraph (3) (and having regard, where relevant, to paragraph (4)) shall, 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 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.

(7) Paragraphs (3) to (6) shall not apply where the authorised development constitutes major highway works, major bridge works or major transport works for the purposes of Part 3 of the 1991 Act, but instead—

(a) the allowable costs of the relocation works shall be determined in accordance with section 85 of that Act (sharing of cost of necessary measures) and any regulations for the time being having effect under that section; and

(b) the allowable costs shall be borne by the undertaker and the statutory utility in such proportions as may be prescribed by any such regulations.

(8) In this article—

“apparatus” has the same meaning as in Part 3 of the 1991 Act;

“relocation works” means work executed, or apparatus provided, under paragraph (2); and

“statutory utility” means a statutory undertaker for the purposes of the 1980 Act or a public communications provider as defined in section 151(1) of the Communications Act 2003(1).

Recovery of costs of new connections

36.—(1) Where any apparatus of a public utility undertaker or of a public communications provider is removed under article 34 (statutory undertakers) any person who is the owner or occupier of premises to which a supply was given from that apparatus shall be entitled to recover from the undertaker compensation in respect of expenditure reasonably incurred by that person, in consequence of the removal, for the purpose of effecting a connection between the premises and any other apparatus from which a supply is given.

(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply in the case of the removal of a public sewer but where such a sewer is removed under article 34 any person who is—

(a) the owner or occupier of premises the drains of which communicated with that sewer; or

(b) the owner of a private sewer which communicated with that sewer,

shall be entitled to recover from the undertaker compensation in respect of expenditure reasonably incurred by that person, in consequence of the removal, for the purpose of making the drain or sewer belonging to that person communicate with any other public sewer or with a private sewerage disposal plant.

(3) This article shall not have effect in relation to apparatus to which article 35 (apparatus and rights of statutory undertakers in stopped-up streets) or Part 3 of the 1991 Act applies.

(4) In this article—

“public communications provider” has the same meaning as in section 151(1) of the Communications Act 2003; and

“public utility undertaker” has the same meaning as in the 1980 Act.

(1)

2003 c. 21. There are amendments to this Act which are not relevant to this Order.