The National Grid (Yorkshire Green Energy Enablement Project) Development Consent Order 2024

PART 5 FOR THE PROTECTION OF NORTHERN POWERGRID

47.  For the protection of Northern Powergrid the following provisions have effect, unless otherwise agreed in writing between the undertaker and Northern Powergrid.

48.  In this Part of this Schedule—

“1991 Act” means the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991;

“alternative apparatus” means alternative apparatus adequate to enable Northern Powergrid to fulfil its statutory functions in a manner not less efficient than previously;

“apparatus” means existing electric lines or electrical plant (as defined in the Electricity Act 1989), belonging to or maintained by Northern Powergrid within the Order limits and includes any structure in which apparatus is or is to be lodged or which gives or will give access to apparatus;

“authorised works” means so much of the works authorised by this Order, which do not form NPG Works or NGN Works which affect existing Northern Powergrid’s apparatus within the Order limits; “functions” includes powers and duties;

“in”, in a context referring to apparatus or alternative apparatus in land, includes a reference to apparatus or alternative apparatus under, over or upon land;

“plan” includes all designs, drawings, specifications, method statements, programmes, risk assessments and other documents that are reasonably necessary properly and sufficiently to describe the works to be executed and shall include measures proposed by the undertaker to ensure the grant of sufficient land or rights in land necessary to mitigate the impacts of the works on Northern Powergrid’s undertaking; and

“Northern Powergrid” means Northern Powergrid (Yorkshire) PLC (Company Number 04112320) whose registered address is Lloyds Court, 78 Grey Street, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 6AF.

49.  This Part of this Schedule does not apply to apparatus in respect of which the relations between the undertaker and Northern Powergrid are regulated by the provisions of Part 3 (street works in England and Wales) of the 1991 Act.

50.  Regardless of any provision in this Order or anything shown on the land plans, or contained in the book of reference, the undertaker shall not acquire any apparatus, or override any easement or other interest of Northern Powergrid otherwise than by agreement with Northern Powergrid, such agreement not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed.

51.—(1) If, in the exercise of the powers conferred by this Order, the undertaker acquires any interest in any land in which any apparatus is placed or over which access to any apparatus is enjoyed or requires that Northern Powergrid’s apparatus is relocated or diverted, that apparatus must not be removed under this Part of this Schedule, and any right of Northern Powergrid to maintain that apparatus in that land and to gain access to it must not be extinguished, until alternative apparatus has been constructed and is in operation, and access to it has been provided pursuant to a completed easement for a tenure no less than exists to the apparatus being relocated or diverted, all to the reasonable satisfaction of Northern Powergrid in accordance with sub-paragraphs (2) to (7).

(2) If, for the purpose of executing any works in, on or under any land purchased, held, appropriated or used under this Order, the undertaker requires the removal of any apparatus placed in that land, the undertaker must give to Northern Powergrid 42 days’ advance written notice of that requirement, together with a plan and section of the work proposed, and of the proposed position of the alternative apparatus to be provided or constructed and in that case (or if in consequence of the exercise of any of the powers conferred by this Order Northern Powergrid reasonably needs to remove any of its apparatus) the undertaker must, subject to sub-paragraph (3), afford to Northern Powergrid the necessary facilities and rights for the construction of alternative apparatus in other land of the undertaker within the Order limits and subsequently for the maintenance of that apparatus.

(3) If alternative apparatus or any part of such apparatus is to be constructed elsewhere than in other land of the undertaker, or the undertaker is unable to afford such facilities and rights as are mentioned in sub-paragraph (2), in the land in which the alternative apparatus or part of such apparatus is to be constructed, Northern Powergrid must, on receipt of a written notice to that effect from the undertaker, as soon as reasonably practicable and at the cost of the undertaker (subject to prior approval by the undertaker of its estimate of costs of doing so) use reasonable endeavours to obtain the necessary facilities and rights in the land in which the alternative apparatus is to be constructed save that this obligation shall not extend to the requirement for Northern Powergrid to use its compulsory purchase powers to this end unless—

(a) the undertaker has first used reasonable endeavours to acquire the relevant land, rights and/or interests and provided reasonable evidence of the same to Northern Powergrid in accordance with the measures set out in the plan (in default of agreement, the reasonableness of any such measures to be determined through arbitration under article 52 (arbitration)); and

(b) the undertaker and Northern Powergrid agree (or in default of agreement, it is determined through arbitration under article 52 (arbitration)) that the promotion of compulsory purchase powers by the undertaker would be significantly more onerous than the exercise of Northern Powergrid’s own compulsory powers.

(4) Any alternative apparatus to be constructed in land of the undertaker within the order limits under this Part of this Schedule must be constructed in such manner and in such line or situation as may be agreed between Northern Powergrid and the undertaker or in default of agreement settled by arbitration in accordance with article 52 (arbitration).

(5) Northern Powergrid must, after the alternative apparatus to be provided or constructed has been agreed or settled by arbitration in accordance with article 52 (arbitration), and after the grant to Northern Powergrid of any such facilities and rights as are referred to in sub-paragraph (2) or (3), proceed without unnecessary delay to construct and bring into operation the alternative apparatus and subsequently to remove any apparatus required by the undertaker to be removed under the provisions of this Part of this Schedule.

52.—(1) Where, in accordance with the provisions of this Part of this Schedule, the undertaker affords to Northern Powergrid facilities and rights for the construction and maintenance in land of the undertaker of alternative apparatus in substitution for apparatus to be removed, those facilities and rights must be granted upon such terms and conditions as may be agreed between the undertaker and Northern Powergrid or in default of agreement settled by arbitration in accordance with article 52 (arbitration).

(2) If the facilities and rights to be afforded by the undertaker in respect of any alternative apparatus, and the terms and conditions subject to which those facilities and rights are to be granted, are in the opinion of the arbitrator less favourable on the whole to Northern Powergrid than the facilities and rights enjoyed by it in respect of the apparatus to be removed and the terms and conditions to which those facilities and rights are subject, the arbitrator must make such provision for the payment of compensation by the undertaker to Northern Powergrid as appears to the arbitrator to be reasonable having regard to all the circumstances of the particular case.

53.—(1) Not less than 48 days before starting the execution of any works in, on or under any land purchased, held, appropriated or used under this Order that are within 15m of any above ground apparatus and / or to a depth of between 0.4m below ground level of apparatus (including conducting any activities whether intentionally or unintentionally, through for example ground or machinery collapse, which may affect Northern Powergrid’s apparatus or encroach on safety distances to live equipment) or will or may affect, any apparatus the removal of which has not been required by the undertaker under paragraph 51(2), the undertaker must submit to Northern Powergrid a plan, section and description of the works to be executed.

(2) Those works must be executed only in accordance with the plan, section and description submitted under sub-paragraph (1) and in accordance with such reasonable requirements as may be made in accordance with sub-paragraph (3) by Northern Powergrid for the alteration or otherwise for the protection of the apparatus, or for securing access to it, and Northern Powergrid is entitled to watch and inspect the execution of those works.

(3) Any requirements made by Northern Powergrid under sub-paragraph (2) must be made within a period of 42 days beginning with the date on which a plan, section and description under sub- paragraph (1) are submitted to it.

(4) If Northern Powergrid in accordance with sub-paragraph (3) 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 47 to 52 apply as if the removal of the apparatus had been required by the undertaker under paragraph (2).

(5) Nothing in this paragraph precludes the undertaker from submitting at any time or from time to time, but in no case less than 35 days before commencing the execution of any works, a new plan, section and description instead of the plan, section and description previously submitted, and having done so the provisions of this paragraph apply to and in respect of the new plan, section and description.

(6) The undertaker is not required to comply with sub-paragraph (1) in a case of emergency but in that case it must give to Northern Powergrid notice as soon as is reasonably practicable and a plan, section and description of those works as soon as reasonably practicable subsequently and must comply with sub-paragraph (2) in so far as is reasonably practicable in the circumstances.

54.—(1) Subject to the following provisions of this paragraph, the undertaker must repay to Northern Powergrid all reasonable and proper expenses costs or charges incurred by Northern Powergrid—

(a) in, or in connection with, the inspection, removal, alteration or protection of any apparatus or the construction of any new apparatus which may be required in consequence of the execution of any such works as are referred to in paragraph 51(2) including—

(i) any costs reasonably incurred or compensation properly paid in connection with the acquisition of rights or the exercise of statutory powers for such apparatus including without limitation in the event that it is agreed Northern Powergrid elects to use compulsory purchase powers to acquire any necessary rights under paragraph 51(3) all costs reasonably incurred as a result of such action;

(ii) in connection with the cost of the carrying out of any diversion work or the provision of any alternative apparatus;

(iii) the cutting off of any apparatus from any other apparatus or the making safe of redundant apparatus;

(iv) the approval of plans;

(v) the carrying out of protective works, plus a capitalised sum to cover the cost of maintaining and renewing permanent protective works;

(vi) the survey of any land, apparatus or works, the inspection and monitoring of works or the installation or removal of any temporary works reasonably necessary in consequence of the execution of any such works referred to in this Part of this Schedule); and

(b) in assessing and preparing a design for its apparatus to address and accommodate the proposals of the undertaker whether or not the undertaker proceeds to implement those proposals or alternative or none at all,

provided that if it so prefers Northern Powergrid may abandon apparatus that the undertaker does not seek to remove in accordance with paragraph 51(1) having first decommissioned such apparatus.

(2) There is to be deducted from any sum payable under sub-paragraph (1) the value of any apparatus removed under the provisions of this Part of this Schedule, that value being calculated after removal and for the avoidance of doubt, if the apparatus removed under the provisions of this Part of this Schedule has nil value, no sum will be deducted from the amount payable under sub-paragraph (1) if in accordance with the provisions of this Part of this Schedule—

(a) apparatus of better type, of greater capacity or of greater dimensions is placed in substitution for existing apparatus of worse type, of smaller capacity or of smaller dimensions; 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 in accordance with article 52 (arbitration) to be necessary, then, if such placing involves cost in the construction of works under this Part of this Schedule 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 sub-paragraph would be payable to Northern Powergrid by virtue of sub-paragraph (1) is to be reduced by the amount of that excess save where it is not possible on account of project time limits and/or supply issues to obtain the existing type of operations, capacity, dimensions or place at the existing depth in which case full costs shall be borne by the undertaker.

(3) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (2)—

(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 where such extension is required in consequence of the execution of any such works as are referred to in paragraph 51(2); 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.

(4) Where any payment falls due pursuant to paragraph 54 (1), NPG shall—

(i) provide an itemised invoice or reasonable expenses claim to the Undertaker; and

(ii) provide ‘reminder letters’ to the undertaker for payment to be made within the fifty days on the following days after the invoice or reasonable expenses claim to the undertaker—

(aa) 15 days (‘reminder letter 1’)

(bb) 29 days (‘reminder letter 2’)

(cc) 43 days (‘reminder letter 3’)

(iii) commence debt proceedings to recover any unpaid itemised invoice or reasonable expenses claim on the fiftieth day of receipt of the same where payment has not been made.

55.—(1) Subject to sub-paragraphs (2) and (3), if by reason or in consequence of the construction of any of the works referred to in in paragraph 51(2), or in consequence of the, maintenance or failure of any of the authorised works by or on behalf of the undertaker or in consequence of any act or default of the undertaker (or any person employed or authorised by it) in the course of carrying out such works, including without limitation works carried out by the undertaker under this Schedule or any subsidence resulting from any of these works any damage is caused to any apparatus (other than apparatus the repair of which is not reasonably necessary in view of its intended removal for the purposes of those works) or property of Northern Powergrid, or there is any interruption in any service provided by Northern Powergrid, or Northern Powergrid becomes liable to pay any amount to a third party as a consequence of any default, negligence or omission by the undertaker in carrying out the authorised works, the undertaker must—

(a) bear and pay the cost reasonably incurred by Northern Powergrid in making good such damage or restoring the supply; and

(b) reimburse Northern Powergrid for any other expenses, loss, damages, penalty, proceedings, claims or costs incurred by or recovered from Northern Powergrid,

by reason or in consequence of any such damage or interruption or Northern Powergrid becoming liable to any third party.

(2) Nothing in sub-paragraph (1) imposes any liability on the undertaker with respect to any damage or interruption to the extent that it is attributable to the act, neglect or default of Northern Powergrid, its officers, employees, servants, contractors or agents.

(3) Northern Powergrid must give the undertaker reasonable notice of any such claim or demand and no settlement or compromise is to be made without the consent of the undertaker which, if it withholds such consent, has the sole conduct of any settlement or compromise or of any proceedings necessary to resist the claim or demand.

(4) Northern Powergrid must use its reasonable endeavours to mitigate in whole or in part and to minimise any costs, expenses, loss, demands, and penalties to which this paragraph applies. If requested to do so by the undertaker, Northern Powergrid must provide an explanation of how the claim has been minimised or details to substantiate any cost or compensation claimed pursuant to sub-paragraph (1). The undertaker shall only be liable under this paragraph for claims reasonably incurred by Northern Powergrid.

56.  Nothing in this Part of this Schedule affects the provisions of any enactment or agreement regulating the relations between the undertaker and Northern Powergrid in respect of any apparatus laid or erected in land belonging to the undertaker on the date on which this Order is made.

57.  Where in consequence of the proposed construction of any of the authorised development, the undertaker or Northern Powergrid requires the removal of apparatus under paragraph 51 or otherwise or Northern Powergrid makes requirements for the protection or alteration of apparatus under paragraph 53, the undertaker shall use its reasonable endeavours to co-ordinate the execution of the works in the interests of safety and the need to ensure the safe and efficient operation of Northern Powergrid’s undertaking taking into account the undertaker’s desire for the efficient and economic execution of the authorised development and the undertaker and Northern Powergrid shall use reasonable endeavours to co-operate with each other for those purposes.

58.  If in consequence of an agreement reached in accordance with paragraph 56 or the powers granted under this Order the access to any apparatus or alternative apparatus is materially obstructed, the undertaker shall provide such alternative means of access to such apparatus or alternative apparatus as will enable Northern Powergrid to maintain or use the said apparatus no less effectively than was possible before such obstruction.

59.  The plans submitted to Northern Powergrid by the undertaker pursuant to this Part of the Schedule must be sent to Northern Powergrid at [e-mail] such other address as Northern Powergrid may from time to time appoint instead for that purpose and notify to the undertaker in writing.

60.  Where practicable, the undertaker and Northern Powergrid will make reasonable efforts to liaise and co-operate in respect of information that is relevant to the safe and efficient construction operation and maintenance of the authorised development. Such liaison shall be carried out where any works are—

(a) within 15m of any above ground apparatus and / or;

(b) are to a depth of between 0 – 4m below ground level of apparatus.