The Knottingley Power Plant Order 2015

PART 6 POWERS OF ACQUISITION

Compulsory acquisition of land

18.—(1) The undertaker may acquire compulsorily so much of the Order land as is required for the authorised development or to facilitate, or is incidental, to it.

(2) This article is subject to paragraph (2) of article 21 (compulsory acquisition of rights and imposition of restrictive covenants) and article 27 (temporary use of land for carrying out the authorised development).

Compulsory acquisition of land – incorporation of the minerals code

19.  Parts 2 and 3 of Schedule 2 to the Acquisition of Land Act 1981 (minerals) are incorporated in 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 and rights compulsorily

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

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

(b) no declaration may be executed under section 4 of the Compulsory Purchase (Vesting Declarations) Act 1981 as applied by article 23 (application of the Compulsory Purchase (Vesting Declarations) Act 1981)(1).

(2) The authority conferred by article 27 (temporary use of land for carrying out the authorised development) ceases at the end of the period referred to in paragraph (1), except that nothing in this paragraph prevents 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 and imposition of restrictive covenants

21.—(1) The undertaker may acquire compulsorily such rights or impose restrictive covenants over the Order land, by creating them as well as by acquiring rights already in existence, as are described in the book of reference and shown on the land plan.

(2) Subject to section 8 of the 1965 Act, as substituted by paragraph 5 of Schedule 6 (modification of compensation and compulsory purchase enactments for creation of new rights and imposition of restrictive covenants), where the undertaker acquires an existing right over land or imposes a restrictive covenant under paragraph (1), the undertaker is not required to acquire a greater interest in that land.

(3) Schedule 6 (modification of compensation and compulsory purchase enactments for creation of new rights and imposition of restrictive covenants) has 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 restrictive covenants.

(4) In any case where the acquisition of new rights under paragraph (1) is required for the purpose of diverting, replacing or protecting apparatus of a statutory undertaker, the undertaker may, with the consent of the Secretary of State, transfer the power to acquire such rights to the statutory undertaker in question.

(5) The exercise by a statutory undertaker of any power in accordance with a transfer under paragraph (4) is subject to the same restrictions, liabilities and obligations as would apply under this Order if that power were exercised by the undertaker.

(6) Where the power in paragraph (4) is transferred to a statutory undertaker and the statutory undertaker—

(a) is liable to pay compensation for the exercise of that power; and

(b) fails to discharge that liability,

the liability is enforceable against the undertaker.

(7) Nothing in this article affects any agreement between the undertaker and any statutory undertaker receiving the benefit of any power transferred by the operation of paragraph (4).

(8) Any person who suffers loss as a result of the acquisition of any private right or the imposition of a restrictive covenant under this article is entitled to compensation to be determined, in case of dispute, under Part 1 of the 1961 Act.

Private rights

22.—(1) Subject to the provisions of this article, all private rights over land subject to compulsory acquisition under this Order are 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 earlier.

(2) Subject to the provisions of this article, all private rights over land subject to the compulsory acquisition of rights under this Order shall be extinguished in so far as their continuance would be inconsistent with the exercise of the right—

(a) as from the date of acquisition of the right 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), as modified by paragraph 7 of Schedule 6 to this Order;

whichever is the earlier.

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

(4) Any person who suffers loss by the extinguishment or suspension of any private right under this article is entitled to compensation in accordance with the terms of section 152 of the 2008 Act to be determined, in case of dispute, under Part 1 of the 1961 Act.

(5) 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 30 (statutory undertakers) applies.

(6) Paragraphs (1) to (3) 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 entry onto it; or

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

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

(b) any agreement made at any time between the undertaker and the person in or to whom the right of way in question is vested or belongs.

(7) If any such agreement as is referred to in paragraph (6)(b)—

(a) is made with a person in or to whom the right 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 is effective in respect of the persons so deriving title, whether the title was derived before or after the making of the agreement.

(8) Reference in this article to private rights over land includes reference to any trusts or incidents to which the land is subject.

Application of the Compulsory Purchase (Vesting Declarations) Act 1981

23.—(1) The 1981 Act applies as if this Order were a compulsory purchase order.

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

(3) In section 3 (preliminary notices)—

(a) for subsection (1) there is 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 must 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 is substituted “(1)” and after “given” there is inserted “and published”;

(c) for subsections (5) and (6) there is 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 is inserted “in a local newspaper circulating in the area in which the land is situated”; and

(b) subsection (2) is 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)” are omitted.

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

Acquisition of subsoil only

24.—(1) The undertaker may acquire compulsorily so much of, or such rights in, the subsoil of the land referred to in paragraph (1) of article 18 (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 land under paragraph (1), the undertaker is not required to acquire an interest in any other part of the land.

(3) Paragraph (2) does not prevent article 25 (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

25.—(1) This article applies 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 which states 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 is 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 is required to sell only the land subject to the notice to treat must, 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 determines 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 is required to sell the land subject to the notice to treat.

(6) If on such a reference the tribunal determines 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 is deemed to be a notice to treat for that part.

(7) If on such a reference the tribunal determines 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 is 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 determines 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 is 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, must 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 must 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

26.—(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) does 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, is entitled to compensation to be determined, in case of dispute, under Part 1 of the 1961 Act.

(5) Compensation is not 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

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

(a) enter on and take temporary possession of—

(i) such land as is specified as being required only temporarily in the book of reference, and

(ii) any other 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), security fencing and buildings on that land; and

(d) construct any mitigation works required by the relevant planning authority as a condition to discharging any of the requirements in Part 2 (Requirements) of Schedule 1.

(2) Not less than 14 days before entering on and taking temporary possession of land under this article the undertaker must serve notice of the intended entry and the stated purpose of possession 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 work for which temporary possession of the land was taken; 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, before 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 must remove all temporary works and restore the land to the reasonable satisfaction of the owners of the land; but the undertaker is not required to—

(a) replace a building removed under this article;

(b) restore the land on which any works have been constructed under paragraph (1)(d), or on which landscaping works have been carried out (in accordance with Requirement 7 (provision of landscaping) if appropriate), if the owners and occupiers consent to the works remaining; or

(c) remove any ground strengthening works to facilitate the construction of the authorised development.

(5) The undertaker must pay compensation to the owners and occupiers of land 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 any power conferred by this article.

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

(7) Nothing in this article affects 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) except that the undertaker is not be precluded from—

(a) acquiring new rights over any part of that land under article 21 (compulsory acquisition of rights and imposition of restrictive covenants); or

(b) acquiring any part of the subsoil (or rights in the subsoil) of that land under article 24 (acquisition of subsoil only).

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

(10) Section 13 of the 1965 Act (refusal to give possession to acquiring authority) applies 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 authorised development

28.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), at any time during the maintenance period relating to any part of the authorised development, the undertaker may—

(a) enter on 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) does 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 on and taking temporary possession of land under this article the undertaker must 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 must remove all temporary works and restore the land to the reasonable satisfaction of the owners of the land.

(6) The undertaker must 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.

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

(8) Nothing in this article affects any liability to pay compensation under section 10(2) of the 1965 Act (further provisions as to compensation for injurious affection) 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 is not required to acquire the land or any interest in it.

(10) Section 13 of the 1965 Act (refusal to give possession to acquiring authority) applies 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).

(11) In this article “the maintenance period”, in relation to any part of the authorised development, means the period of 5 years beginning with the date on which that part of the authorised development is first operational.

Protective provisions for specified undertakers

29.  Schedule 8 (protective provisions) has effect.

Statutory undertakers

30.  The undertaker may—

(a) acquire compulsorily, or acquire new rights or impose restrictive covenants over, the land belonging to statutory undertakers shown on the land plan within the limits to the land to be acquired and described in the book of reference; and

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

Apparatus and rights of statutory undertakers in stopped-up streets

31.—(1) Where a street is stopped up under article 11 (stopping up of street), any statutory utility whose apparatus is under, in, on, along or across the street has 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 11, 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 must—

(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 must 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) is 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 is not to 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 is to 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)) 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 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) do 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 are 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 are 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(2).

(1)

1981 c.66. Sections 2, 6 and 11 were amended by section 4 of, and paragraph 52 of Schedule 2 to, the Planning (Consequential Provisions) Act 1990 (c.11). There are other amendments to the 1981 Act which are not relevant to this Order.

(2)

2003 c.21.