The National Grid (Hinkley Point C Connection Project) Order 2016

Temporary use of land by National Grid

29.—(1) National Grid may, in connection with the carrying out of the authorised development—

(a) enter on and take temporary possession of—

(i) so much of the land specified in column (1) of Part 1 of Schedule 12 (land of which temporary possession may be taken) to exercise the powers described in the Book of Reference for the purpose specified in relation to that land in column (2) of Part 1 of that Schedule relating to the part of the authorised development specified in column (3) of Part 1 of that Schedule; and

(ii) any other Order land in respect of which no notice of entry has been served under section 11 of the 1965 Act (other than in connection with the acquisition of rights only) and no declaration has been made under section 4 of the 1981 Act;

(b) remove any electric line, electrical plant, buildings, structures, pylons, apparatus and vegetation from that land;

(c) construct temporary works (including the provision of means of access) and buildings on that land; and

(d) construct any works specified in relation to that land in column (2) of Part 1 of Schedule 12 or any other mitigation works.

(2) Not less than 14 days before entering on and taking temporary possession of land under this article, National Grid must serve notice of the intended entry on the owners and occupiers of the land.

(3) National Grid may not, without the agreement of the owners of the land, remain in possession of any land under this article—

(a) in the case of land referred to in paragraph (1)(a)(i), after the end of the period of one year beginning with the date of completion of the part of the authorised development specified in relation to that land in column (3) of Part 1 of Schedule 12, or

(b) in the case of land referred to in paragraph (1)(a)(ii), after the end of the period of one year beginning with the date of completion of the work for which temporary possession of the land was taken unless National Grid has, by the end of that period, served a notice of entry under section 11 of the 1965 Act or made a declaration under section 4 of the 1981 Act in relation to that land.

(4) National Grid must provide the owner of any land of which temporary possession has been taken under this article with written notice of the date of completion of the works for which temporary possession was taken within 28 days of the completion of those works.

(5) Before giving up possession of land of which temporary possession has been taken under paragraph (1)(a)(i), National Grid must remove all temporary works and restore the land to the reasonable satisfaction of the owners of the land, but National Grid is not required to—

(a) replace a building, structure, electric line, electrical plant or pylon removed under this article;

(b) restore the land on which any works have been carried out under paragraph (1)(d) insofar as the element of works shown in column (4) of Part 1 of Schedule 12 is concerned;

(c) remove any foundations below one metre which had been placed in that land to support pylons and electric lines constructed upon those foundations; or

(d) remove any pylons or electric lines or underground cables constructed or installed on, over, under or in that land as part of the authorised development.

(6) Before giving up possession of land of which temporary possession has been taken under paragraph (1)(a)(ii), unless otherwise agreed by the owners of the land, National Grid must either acquire the land or the interest on, over, or in the land in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (3)(b) or remove all temporary works and restore the land to the reasonable satisfaction of the owners of the land; but National Grid is not required to—

(a) replace a building, structure, electric line, electrical plant or pylon removed under this article;

(b) restore the land on which any works have been carried out under paragraph (1)(d) insofar as the element of works shown in column (4) of Part 1 of Schedule 12 is concerned;

(c) remove any foundations below one metre which had been placed in that land to support pylons and electric lines constructed upon those foundations; or

(d) remove any pylons or electric lines or underground cables constructed or installed on, over, under or in that land as part of the authorised development.

(7) National Grid must pay compensation to the owners and occupiers of land of which temporary possession is taken under this article for any loss or damage arising from the exercise in relation to the land of the provisions of this article.

(8) Any dispute as to a person’s entitlement to compensation under paragraph (7), or as to the amount of the compensation, must be determined under Part 1 of the 1961 Act.

(9) Nothing in this article affects any liability to pay compensation under section 152 of the 2008 Act (compensation in case where no right to claim in nuisance) or under any other enactment in respect of loss or damage arising from the carrying out of the authorised development, other than loss or damage for which compensation is payable under paragraph (7).

(10) National Grid may not compulsorily acquire under this Order the land referred to in paragraph (1)(a)(i) except that National Grid is not precluded from—

(a) acquiring new rights or imposing restrictions over any part of that land under article 22 (compulsory acquisition of rights); or

(b) acquiring any rights in the subsoil or rights in air-space over (or rights in the subsoil or in the air-space over) that land under article 26 (acquisition of subsoil or air-space only).

(11) Where National Grid takes possession of land under this article, National Grid is not required to acquire the land or any interest in it.

(12) Section 13 of the 1965 Act (refusal to give possession to acquiring authority) applies to the temporary use of land pursuant to this article to the same extent as it applies to the compulsory acquisition of land under this Order by virtue of section 125 of the 2008 Act (application of compulsory acquisition provisions).

(13) Nothing in this article prevents National Grid from taking temporary possession more than once in relation to any land specified in Part 1 of Schedule 12.