The Drax Power Station Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage Extension Order 2024

PART 6 OPERATIONS

Felling or lopping of trees and removal of hedgerows

31.—(1) The undertaker may fell or lop any tree or shrub near any part of the authorised development or cut back its roots, if it reasonably believes it to be necessary to do so to prevent the tree or shrub from—

(a) obstructing or interfering with the construction, maintenance or operation of the authorised development or any apparatus used in connection with the authorised development;

(b) constituting a danger to persons using the authorised development; or

(c) obstructing or interfering with the passage of construction vehicles to the extent necessary for the purposes of construction of the authorised development.

(2) In carrying out any activity authorised by paragraph (1) the undertaker must do no unnecessary damage to any tree or shrub and must pay compensation to any person for any loss or damage arising from such activity.

(3) Any dispute as to a person’s entitlement to compensation under paragraph (2), or as to the amount of compensation, is to be determined under Part 1 of the 1961 Act.

(4) The undertaker may, for the purposes of the authorised development and subject to paragraph (2), remove the hedgerows within the Order limits that may be required for the purposes of constructing the authorised development.

(5) The undertaker may not pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (4) fell or lop a tree or remove hedgerows within the extent of the public maintainable highway without the prior consent of the highway authority.

(6) In this article “hedgerow” has the same meaning as in the Hedgerows Regulations 1997(1).

Protective works to buildings

32.—(1) Subject to the following provisions of this article, the undertaker may at its own expense carry out such protective works to any building lying within the Order land as the undertaker considers necessary or expedient.

(2) Protective works may be carried out—

(a) at any time before or during the construction of any part of the authorised development in the vicinity of the building; or

(b) after the completion of that part of the authorised development in the vicinity of the building at any time up to the end of the period of five years beginning with the later of the date of Unit 1 full commissioning and the date of Unit 2 full commissioning.

(3) For the purpose of determining how the power under this article are to be exercised, the undertaker may enter and survey any building falling within paragraph (1) and any land within its curtilage.

(4) For the purpose of carrying out protective works under this article to a building, the undertaker may (subject to paragraphs (5) and (6))—

(a) enter the building and any land within its curtilage; and

(b) where the works cannot be carried out reasonably conveniently without entering land which is adjacent to the building but outside its curtilage, enter the adjacent land (but not any building erected on it).

(5) Before exercising—

(a) a right under paragraph (1) to carry out protective works to a building;

(b) a right under paragraph (3) to enter a building and land within its curtilage;

(c) a right under paragraph (4)(a) to enter a building and land within its curtilage; or

(d) a right under paragraph (4)(b) to enter land,

the undertaker must, except in the case of emergency, serve on the owners and occupiers of the building or land not less than 14 days’ notice of its intention to exercise that right and, in case falling within sub-paragraph (a), (c) or (d) specifying the protective works proposed to be carried out.

(6) Where a notice is served under paragraph (5)(a), (5)(c) or (5)(d) the owner or occupier of the building or land concerned may, by serving a counter-notice within the period of 10 days beginning with the day on which the notice was served, require the question whether it is necessary or expedient to carry out the protective works or to enter the building or land to be referred to arbitration under article 40 (arbitration).

(7) The undertaker must compensate the owners and occupiers of any building or land in relation to which rights under this article have been exercised for any loss or damage arising to them by reason of the exercise of those rights.

(8) Where—

(a) protective works are carried out under this article to a building; and

(b) within the period of five years beginning with the later of the date of Unit 1 full commissioning and the date of Unit 2 full commissioning it appears that the protective works are inadequate to protect the building against damage caused by the carrying out or use of that part of the authorised development,

the undertaker must compensate the owners and occupiers of the building for any loss or damage sustained by them.

(9) Nothing in this article relieves the undertaker from any liability to pay compensation under section 10(2) (compensation for injurious affection) of the 1965 Act.

(10) Any compensation payable under paragraph (7) or (8) must be determined, in case of dispute, under Part 1 (determination of questions of disputed compensation) of the 1961 Act.

(11) In this article “protective works” in relation to a building means—

(a) underpinning, strengthening and any other works the purpose of which is to prevent damage which may be caused to the building by the construction, maintenance or use of the authorised development; and

(b) any works the purpose of which is to remedy any damage which has been caused to the building by the construction, maintenance or use of the authorised development.

(1)

S.I. 1997/1160.