Article 59
1. In this Schedule—
“apparatus” means—
in the case of a specified undertaker which is an electricity undertaker, electric lines or electrical plant (as defined in the Electricity Act 1989) belonging to, or maintained by, that undertaker;
in the case of a specified undertaker which is a gas undertaker, mains, pipes or other apparatus belonging to, or maintained by, a gas transporter within the meaning of Part 1 of the Gas Act 1986(1) for the purposes of the transportation and storage of gas;
in the case of a specified undertaker which is a water undertaker, mains, pipes or other apparatus belonging to, or maintained by, the undertaker for the purposes of water supply;
in the case of a specified undertaker which is a sewerage undertaker—
any drain or works vested in the undertaker under the Water Industry Act 1991(2); and
any sewer which is so vested or is the subject of a notice of intention to adopt given under section 102(4) of that Act or an agreement to adopt made under section 104 of that Act,
and includes a sludge main, disposal main (within the meaning of section 219 of that Act) or sewer outfall and any manholes, ventilating shafts, pumps or other accessories forming part of any such sewer, drain or works,
and includes any structure in which apparatus is, or is to be, lodged or which gives, or will give, access to such apparatus;
“construction” includes execution, placing, altering, replacing, relaying and removal and, in its application to works which include or comprise any operation, means the carrying out of that operation;
“emergency works” has the same meaning as in section 52 of the 1991 Act;
“in”, in a context referring to apparatus in land, includes under, over, across, along or upon land;
“necessary alternative apparatus” means alternative apparatus adequate to enable a specified undertaker to fulfil its statutory or licensed functions in a manner no less efficient than previously;
“plans” includes sections, specifications and method statements;
“specified undertaker” means—
Bristol Water plc (company registration number 02662226), whose registered office is P.O. BOX 218, Bridgwater Road, Bristol, BS99 7AU;
Wessex Water Services Limited (company registration number 02366648), whose registered office is Wessex Water Operations Centre, Claverton Down Road, Claverton Down, Bath, BA2 7WW; and
Western Power Distribution (South West) plc (company registration number 02366894) whose registered office is Avonbank, Feeder Road, Bristol, Avon, BS2 0TB,
or any person succeeding any such company as a licence holder within the meaning of Part 1 of the Electricity Act 1989, a gas transporter within the meaning of Part 1 of the Gas Act 1986, a water undertaker within the meaning of the Water Industry Act 1991 or as a sewerage undertaker within the meaning of Part I of that Act, and “the specified undertaker” in relation to any apparatus means the specified undertaker to whom the apparatus belongs or by whom it is maintained; and
“specified work” means any of the authorised works which—
will or may be situated over or within 15 metres measured in any direction of, or may in any way adversely affect, any apparatus; or
wherever situated, imposes any load upon any sewer, the removal of which has not yet been required under paragraph 8.
2. Paragraphs 1(1) and 2 of Schedule 9 (provisions relating to statutory undertakers, etc.) do not apply in relation to a specified undertaker and paragraphs 1(3) and 1(4) of that Schedule have effect as if they referred to apparatus removed under this Schedule.
3. Where any street is stopped up under article 10 (construction of new and stopping up of existing streets), any specified undertaker whose apparatus is in the street has the same powers and rights in respect of that apparatus as it enjoyed immediately before the stopping up, but nothing in this paragraph affects any right of the promoter or of the specified undertaker to require the removal of that apparatus under paragraph 8 or the power of the promoter to carry out works under paragraphs 20 to 29.
4. The promoter must give not less than 28 days’ notice in writing of its intention to stop up any street under article 10 to any specified undertaker whose apparatus is in that street.
5. This Schedule does not apply to anything done or proposed to be done in relation to or affecting any apparatus in so far as the relations between the promoter and the specified undertaker are regulated by the provisions of Part 3 of the 1991 Act.
6. The promoter must not acquire any apparatus from a specified undertaker pursuant to this Order otherwise than by agreement, which must not be unreasonably withheld.
7. The promoter may in exercise of the powers conferred by this Order acquire or appropriate any land in which any apparatus is placed and, following the removal of such apparatus in accordance with the provisions of this Schedule, any rights in that land relating to that apparatus are extinguished but no apparatus is to be removed nor is any right of the specified undertaker to use, maintain or renew any apparatus to be extinguished until any necessary alternative apparatus has been constructed and is in operation to the reasonable satisfaction of the specified undertaker.
8. Paragraphs 9 to 12 apply where—
(a)the promoter requires the removal of any apparatus for the purpose of constructing any of the authorised works and gives to the specified undertaker not less than 56 days’ written notice of that requirement together with a plan of the proposed work and of the proposed position of the alternative apparatus to be provided or constructed; or
(b)in consequence of the exercise or proposed exercise of any of the powers conferred by this Order, the specified undertaker reasonably requires to remove any apparatus.
9. The promoter must, if it is practicable to do so, afford to the specified undertaker the necessary rights and facilities for the construction of any necessary alternative apparatus in other land which is available for the purpose and which is held or used, or intended for use, by the promoter for the purpose of its undertaking under this Order or in which it has sufficient rights or interests and thereafter for the use, maintenance and renewal of such apparatus and, if the promoter is unable to obtain those rights and facilities, the specified undertaker, on receipt of a written notice to that effect from the promoter, must use its best endeavours to obtain the necessary rights and facilities.
10. The obligation imposed upon the specified undertaker by paragraph 9 does not extend to the exercise by the specified undertaker of any power to acquire any land or rights in land by a compulsory purchase order.
11. Any alternative apparatus to be constructed by the specified undertaker under paragraph 9 is to be constructed in such manner, and in such line or situation, as may be agreed between the specified undertaker and the promoter or, in default of agreement, determined by arbitration.
12. The specified undertaker, after the manner of construction and the line or situation of any necessary alternative apparatus have been agreed or determined and after the grant to or obtaining by the specified undertaker of any such facilities and rights as are referred to in paragraph 9, must proceed without unnecessary delay to construct and bring into operation the alternative apparatus and afterwards to remove any apparatus required by the promoter to be removed in accordance with paragraph 8.
13. Paragraphs 14 to 16 apply to so much of the work necessary in connection with the construction of alternative apparatus, or the removal of apparatus required to be removed, as will take place in any land held or used, or intended for use, by the promoter for the purpose of its undertaking.
14. If the promoter gives notice in writing to the specified undertaker that it desires to carry out any part of any work to which this paragraph applies, such work, instead of being carried out by the specified undertaker, may be carried out by the promoter with the prior written consent of the specified undertaker (which must not be unreasonably withheld and is subject to any such conditions as are reasonable and proper to protect the apparatus) in accordance with plans and in a position agreed between the specified undertaker and the promoter or, in default of agreement, determined by arbitration, without unnecessary delay under the superintendence (if given) and to the reasonable satisfaction of the specified undertaker.
15. In carrying out any work under paragraph 14 the promoter must comply with all statutory obligations which would have been applicable had the works been carried out by the specified undertaker.
16. Nothing in paragraph 14 authorises the promoter to carry out the actual placing, erection, installation, bedding, packing, removal, connection or disconnection of any apparatus or, where the apparatus is laid in a trench, execute any filling around the apparatus within 600 millimetres (measured in any direction) of the apparatus.
17. Where, in accordance with the provisions of this Schedule, the promoter affords to the specified undertaker facilities and rights for the construction, use, maintenance and renewal in land of the promoter of alternative apparatus in substitution for apparatus to be removed, those facilities and rights may be granted upon such terms and conditions as may be agreed between the promoter and the specified undertaker or, in default of agreement, determined by arbitration.
18. In determining the terms and conditions mentioned in paragraph 17 in respect of alternative apparatus to be constructed across or along the authorised works the arbitrator must—
(a)give effect to all reasonable requirements of the promoter for ensuring the safety of the authorised works and for securing any subsequent alterations or adaptations of the alternative apparatus which may be required to prevent interference with any such works; and
(b)so far as it may be reasonable and practicable to do so in the circumstances of the case, give effect to any terms and conditions applicable to the apparatus (if any) constructed across or along the authorised works for which the alternative apparatus is to be substituted and to any other reasonable requirements of the specified undertaker.
19. If the facilities and rights to be afforded by the promoter in respect of any alternative apparatus under paragraph 17 and the terms and conditions subject to which those facilities and rights are to be granted are, in the opinion of the arbitrator, more or less favourable on the whole to the specified undertaker than the facilities, rights, terms and conditions applying to the apparatus to be removed, the arbitrator must make such provision for the payment of compensation to or by the promoter by or to the specified undertaker in that respect as appears to the arbitrator to be reasonable having regard to all the circumstances of the case.
20. Not less than 56 days before commencing to construct or renew any specified work, the promoter must submit to the specified undertaker plans of the works.
21. In relation to a work which is a specified work because of its proximity to or effect on a sewer, the plans to be submitted to the specified undertaker under paragraph 20 must be detailed plans describing—
(a)the exact position of the specified work;
(b)the level at which it is proposed to be constructed or renewed;
(c)the manner of its construction or renewal;
(d)the position of all sewers within 15 metres of the specified work or upon which the specified work will impose a load; and
(e)by way of detailed drawings, every alteration proposed to be made to any such sewer.
22. The promoter must not commence the construction or renewal of any specified work to which paragraph 20 applies until the specified undertaker has given written approval of the plans so submitted.
23. Any approval of the specified undertaker required under paragraph 22—
(a)may be given subject to reasonable conditions for any purpose mentioned in paragraph 24;
(b)must not be unreasonably withheld; and
(c)is deemed to have been given if it is neither given nor refused within 56 days of the submission of plans for approval.
24. In relation to a work to which paragraph 21 applies, the specified undertaker may require such modifications to be made to the plans as may be reasonably necessary for the purpose of securing its sewerage system against interference or risk of damage or for the purpose of providing or securing proper and convenient means of access to any sewer.
25. A specified work is to be constructed (and in the case of any temporary work removed) only in accordance with—
(a)the approved plans (and, in the case of plans relating to sewers approved, deemed to have been approved or settled by arbitration, as amended from time to time by agreement between the promoter and the specified undertaker); and
(b)all reasonable requirements made by the specified undertaker for the alteration, or otherwise for the protection, of the apparatus, or for securing access to it.
and an officer of the specified undertaker is entitled to watch and inspect the carrying out of the work.
26. If within 42 days after the submission to it of any plans under paragraph 20, in consequence of the works proposed by the promoter the specified undertaker reasonably requires the removal of any apparatus and gives written notice to the promoter of that requirement, the foregoing provisions of this Schedule have effect as if the removal of such apparatus had been required by the specified undertaker under paragraph 8.
27. Nothing in paragraph 20 or 26 precludes the promoter from submitting at any time, or from time to time, but in no case less than 28 days before commencing the construction of any specified work, a new plan in place of the plan previously submitted, in which case the provisions of those paragraphs apply to, and in respect of, such new plan except that the reference in paragraph 26 to 42 days is to be treated as a reference to 21 days.
28. The promoter is not required to comply with paragraph 20 in a case where it is necessary to carry out emergency works but, in such a case, it must give to the specified undertaker notice as soon as reasonably practicable, and a plan of the works as soon as reasonably practicable afterwards, and must comply with paragraph 25 so far as reasonably practicable in the circumstances.
29. Nothing in paragraph 28 entitles the promoter to carry out works to any apparatus but, upon receipt of notice from the promoter, the specified undertaker must proceed to carry out such works as may be required without unnecessary delay.
30. Where in consequence of the proposed construction of any of the authorised works, the promoter or a specified undertaker requires the removal of apparatus under paragraph 8 or a specified undertaker makes requirements for the protection or alteration of apparatus under paragraph 25, the promoter must use its best endeavours to co-ordinate the execution of the works in the interests of safety and the efficient and economic execution of the authorised works and each specified undertaker must use its best endeavours to co-operate with the promoter for that purpose.
31. If in consequence of the exercise of the powers conferred by this Order the access to any apparatus is materially obstructed the promoter must provide such alternative means of access to such apparatus as will enable the specified undertaker to maintain or use the apparatus no less effectively than was possible before such obstruction.
32. Subject to the provisions of the following paragraphs of this Schedule, the promoter must repay to the specified undertaker the reasonable expenses incurred by the specified undertaker in, or in connection with—
(a)the inspection, removal and relaying or replacing, alteration or protection of any apparatus or the construction of any new apparatus under any provision of this Schedule (including any costs reasonably incurred or compensation properly paid in connection with the acquisition of rights or exercise of statutory powers for such apparatus);
(b)the cutting off of any apparatus from any other apparatus, or the making safe of any redundant apparatus in consequence of the exercise by the promoter of any power under this Order;
(c)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 exercise by the promoter of any power under this Order; and
(d)any other work or thing rendered reasonably necessary in consequence of the exercise by the promoter of any such power;
within a reasonable time of being notified by the specified undertaker that it has incurred such expenses.
33. The value of any apparatus removed under the provisions of this Schedule is to be deducted from any sum payable under paragraph 32, that value being calculated after removal.
34. If in accordance with the provisions of this Schedule—
(a)alternative apparatus of better type, or greater capacity or of greater dimensions is placed in substitution for existing apparatus of worse type, of smaller capacity or of smaller dimensions, except where this has been solely due to using the nearest currently available type; or
(b)apparatus (whether existing apparatus or alternative apparatus) is placed at a depth greater than the depth at which the existing apparatus was situated,
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 promoter or, in default of agreement, is not determined by arbitration to be necessary having regard, among other things, to the nature of the authorised works, then, if such placing involves cost in the construction of works under paragraphs 9 to 12 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 specified undertaker by virtue of paragraph 32 is to be reduced by the amount of that excess.
35. For the purposes of paragraph 34—
(a)an extension of apparatus to a length greater than the length of existing apparatus must not be treated as a placing of apparatus of greater dimensions than those of the existing apparatus except in a case where the apparatus as so extended serves a purpose (either additional to or instead of that served by the existing apparatus) which was not served by the existing apparatus; and
(b)where the provision of a joint in a pipe or 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.
36. An amount which apart from this paragraph would be payable to the specified undertaker in respect of works by virtue of paragraphs 32 to 35 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 specified undertaker any financial benefit by deferment of the time for renewal of the apparatus or of the system of which it forms part in the ordinary course, be reduced by the amount which represents that benefit as calculated in accordance with the Code of Practice entitled “Measures Necessary where Apparatus is Affected by Major Works (Diversionary Works)” and dated June 1992 and approved by the Secretary of State on 30th June 1992, as revised and re-issued from time to time.
37. In any case where work is carried out by the promoter under paragraphs 14 to 16 and, if such work had been carried out by the specified undertaker, the repayment made to the specified undertaker under paragraph 32 would fall to be reduced in accordance with paragraphs 34 to 36, the specified undertaker must pay to the promoter such sum as represents the amount of that reduction.
38. If, by reason or in consequence of the construction, maintenance or failure of any of the authorised works, including any works carried out by the promoter in accordance with paragraph 14 or protective works required by a condition imposed under paragraph 23(a) or required under paragraph 25(b), or any subsidence resulting from any of those 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 other property of the specified undertaker, or there is any interruption in any service provided by the specified undertaker, the promoter must repay the cost reasonably incurred by the specified undertaker in making good such damage, or restoring the supply, and must—
(a)make reasonable compensation to the specified undertaker for any loss sustained by it; and
(b)indemnify the specified undertaker against all claims, demands, proceedings, costs, damages and expenses which may be made or taken against or recovered from, or incurred by, the specified undertaker,
by reason or in consequence of any such damage or interruption; and the fact that any act or thing may have been done by the specified undertaker on behalf of the promoter or in accordance with plans approved by the specified undertaker or in accordance with any requirement of the specified undertaker or under its supervision does not, subject to paragraph 39, excuse the promoter from any liability under the provisions of this paragraph.
39. Nothing in paragraph 38 imposes any liability on the promoter with respect to any damage or interruption to the extent that such damage or interruption is attributable to the neglect or default of the specified undertaker, its officers, servants, contractors or other agents.
40. The specified undertaker must give to the promoter reasonable notice of any claim or demand under the provisions of paragraph 38 and no settlement or compromise of it is to be made without the prior consent of the promoter which must not be unreasonably withheld.
41. The promoter, so far as is reasonably practicable, must exercise the powers conferred by article 18 (safeguarding works to buildings) so as not to obstruct or render less convenient the access to any apparatus.
42. The promoter must not, in the exercise of the powers conferred by section 11(3) (powers of entry) of the 1965 Act, as applied by this Order, or by article 20 (power to survey and investigate land, etc.), make any trial holes which interfere with any apparatus without the consent of the specified undertaker (which must not be unreasonably withheld).
43. Any difference arising between the promoter and a specified undertaker under this Schedule (other than a difference as to its meaning or construction) is to be determined by arbitration in the manner provided by article 67 (arbitration) and in determining any difference under this Schedule the arbitrator may, if the arbitrator thinks fit, require the promoter to execute any temporary or other works so as to avoid, so far as may be reasonably possible, interference with the use of any apparatus.
44. The promoter must give notice to every specified undertaker if any of the functions of the promoter under this Order are transferred to another person in accordance with article 45 (powers of disposal, agreements for operation, etc.) and any such notice must be given within 14 days of any such transfer becoming effective and must describe or give (as appropriate)—
(a)the nature of the functions to be transferred;
(b)the extent of that transfer;
(c)the geographical area to which the transfer relates;
(d)the name and address of the transferee; and
(e)the effective date of the transfer.
45. The obligation to give notice under paragraph 44 to a successor in title to a specified undertaker named in paragraph 1 only applies to the extent that the promoter has been informed by notice in writing by that named undertaker, or by a successor in title to that named undertaker, as the case may be, of the name and address of that successor in title.
46. Any notice in writing to be given by the promoter to a specified undertaker under this Schedule is to be deemed effectively given if sent by recorded delivery or by registered letter addressed to the registered office of that specified undertaker.
1986 c. 44. A new section 7 was substituted by section 5 of the Gas Act 1995, c. 45, and was further amended by section 76 of the Utilities Act 2000, c. 27.