The East Anglia THREE Offshore Wind Farm Order 2017

Retained apparatus: protection: electricity undertakers

68.—(1) Not less than 56 days (or such lesser period agreed by the statutory undertaker, acting reasonably) before commencing the execution of any works authorised by the Order that are near to, or will or may affect any apparatus the removal of which has not been required by the undertaker under paragraph 66(2) or otherwise, the undertaker must submit to the statutory undertaker a plan.

(2) In relation to works which will or may be situated on, over, under or within five metres measured in any direction of any apparatus, or involve embankment works within 5 metres of any apparatus, the plan to be submitted to the statutory undertaker under sub-paragraph (1) must be detailed including a material statement and describing—

(a) the exact position of the works;

(b) the level at which these are proposed to be constructed or renewed;

(c) the manner of their construction or renewal including details of excavation and positioning of plant;

(d) the position of all apparatus; and

(e) by way of detailed drawings, every alteration proposed to be made to or close to any such apparatus.

(3) The undertaker must not commence the construction or renewal of any works to which sub-paragraph (1) or (2) applies until the statutory undertaker has given written approval of the plan so submitted.

(4) Any approval of the statutory undertaker required under sub-paragraph (3)—

(a) may be given subject to reasonable conditions for any purpose mentioned in sub-paragraph (5) or (7);

(b) must not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.

(5) In relation to a work to which sub-paragraph (1) or (2) applies, the statutory undertaker may require such modifications to be made to the plans as may be reasonably necessary for the purpose of securing its system against interference or risk of damage or for the purpose of providing or securing proper and convenient means of access to any apparatus provided that such modifications are made within a period of 56 days beginning with the date on which the plan under sub-paragraph (1) is submitted to it (or such lesser period agreed by the statutory undertaker, acting reasonably). For the avoidance of doubt, provided that any further iterations of the plan submitted to the statutory undertaker for approval as a result of modifications required under this paragraph are not materially different to the modifications previously made by the statutory undertaker, any further required modifications will be made by the statutory undertaker as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter and in any event within 21 days of receipt of any further plans.

(6) Works executed under the Order must be executed only in accordance with the plan, submitted under sub-paragraph (1) or as relevant sub paragraph (2), as amended from time to time by agreement between the undertaker and the statutory undertaker and in accordance with such reasonable requirements as may be made in accordance with sub-paragraph (5) or (7) by the statutory undertaker for the alteration or otherwise for the protection of the apparatus, or for securing access to it, and the statutory undertaker is entitled to watch and inspect the execution of those works.

(7) Where statutory undertakers require any protective works to be carried out either themselves or by the undertaker (whether of a temporary or permanent nature) such protective works must be carried out to the statutory undertaker’s satisfaction prior to the carrying out of any works authorised by the Order or any relevant part thereof (unless otherwise agreed by the statutory undertaker, acting reasonably) and the statutory undertaker must give notice of such works as soon as reasonably practicable and in any event within 56 days from the date of submission of a plan in line with sub-paragraph (1) or (2) (except in an emergency).

(8) If a statutory undertaker in accordance with sub-paragraph (5) or (7) and in consequence of the works proposed by the undertaker, reasonably requires the removal of any apparatus and gives written notice to the undertaker of that requirement, paragraphs 62 to 64 and 67 to 68 apply as if the removal of the apparatus had been required by the undertaker under paragraph 66(2).

(9) Nothing in this paragraph precludes the undertaker from submitting at any time or from time to time, but in no case less than 56 days before commencing the execution of any works (unless otherwise agreed by the statutory undertaker, acting reasonably), a new plan, instead of the plan previously submitted, and having done so the provisions of this paragraph apply to and in respect of the new plan.

(10) The undertaker is not required to comply with sub-paragraph (1) where it needs to carry out emergency works as defined in the 1991 Act but in that case it must give to the statutory undertaker notice as soon as is reasonably practicable and a plan of those works and must comply with sub-paragraph (5), (6) and (7) insofar as is reasonably practicable in the circumstances.