The National Grid (Richborough Connection Project) Development Consent Order 2017

Authority to survey and investigate the land

18.—(1) The undertaker may for the purposes of this Order enter on any land shown within the Order limits and—

(a) survey or investigate the land;

(b) without limitation on the scope of sub-paragraph (a), make trial holes, boreholes or excavations in such positions on the land as the undertaker thinks fit for the purposes of installing or keeping installed the authorised development on the land to investigate the nature of the surface layer and subsoil and remove soil samples;

(c) without limitation on the scope of sub-paragraph (a), carry out ecological or archaeological investigations and monitoring on such land; and

(d) place on, leave on and remove from the land apparatus for use in connection with the survey and investigation of land and making of trial holes, boreholes or excavations.

(2) No land may be entered or equipment placed or left on or removed from the land under paragraph (1), unless at least 14 days’ notice has been served on every owner and occupier of the land.

(3) Any person entering land under this article on behalf of the undertaker—

(a) must, if so required, before or after entering the land, produce written evidence of their authority to do so;

(b) must, before entering the land, provide in the notice details of the purpose specified in paragraph (1) to survey and investigate the land; and

(c) may take onto the land such vehicles and equipment as are necessary to carry out the survey or investigation or to make the trial holes, boreholes or excavations.

(4) No trial holes, boreholes or excavations may be made under this article—

(a) on land located within the highway boundary without the consent of the highway authority; or

(b) in a private street without the consent of the street authority.

(5) The undertaker must compensate the owners and occupiers of the land for any loss or damage arising by reason of the exercise of the powers conferred by this article, such compensation to be determined, in case of dispute, under Part 1 of the 1961 Act (determination of questions of disputed compensation).

(6) If either a highway authority or street authority which receives an application for consent fails to notify the undertaker of its decision within 28 days of receiving the application for consent—

(a) under paragraph (4) (a) in the case of the highway authority; or

(b) under paragraph (4)(b) in the case of a street authority,

that authority is deemed to have granted consent.