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

PART 1 PROTECTION FOR ELECTRICITY, GAS, WATER AND SEWERAGE UNDERTAKERS

1.  The provisions of this Part have effect for the protection of statutory undertakers unless otherwise agreed in writing between the undertaker and the statutory undertaker in question.

2.  In this Part—

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

“apparatus” means—

(a)

in the case of a statutory undertaker within paragraph (a) of the definition of that term, electric lines or electrical plant (as defined in the Electricity Act 1989(1)), belonging to or maintained by the statutory undertaker for the purposes of electricity supply;

(b)

in the case of a statutory undertaker within paragraph (b) of the definition of that term, any mains, pipes or other apparatus belonging to or maintained by the statutory undertaker for the purposes of gas supply;

(c)

in the case of a statutory undertaker within paragraph (c) of the definition of that term, mains, pipes or other water apparatus belonging to or maintained by the statutory undertaker for the purposes of water supply; and

(d)

in the case of a sewerage undertaker—

(i)

any drain or works vested in the sewerage undertaker under the Water Industry Act 1991(2); and

(ii)

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 in each case includes any structure in which apparatus is or is to be lodged or which gives or will give access to apparatus;

“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;

“statutory undertaker” means—

(a)

any licence holder within the meaning of Part 1 of the Electricity Act 1989;

(b)

a gas transporter within the meaning of Part 1 of the Gas Act 1986(3);

(c)

a water undertaker within the meaning of the Water Industry Act 1991;

(d)

a sewerage undertaker;

for the area of the authorised development, and in relation to any apparatus, means the statutory undertaker to whom it belongs or by whom it is maintained.

3.  This Part does not apply to apparatus in respect of which the relations between the undertaker and the statutory undertaker are regulated by Part 3 of the 1991 Act.

4.  Despite any provision in this Order or anything shown on the Land Plans, the undertaker must not acquire any apparatus otherwise than by agreement.

5.—(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, that apparatus must not be removed under this Part and any right of a statutory undertaker to maintain that apparatus in that land must not be extinguished until alternative apparatus has been constructed and is in operation to the reasonable satisfaction of the statutory undertaker in question.

(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, it must give to the statutory undertaker in question written notice of that requirement, together with a plan and section of the work proposed.

(3) If alternative apparatus or any part of such apparatus is to be constructed as a consequence of the removal of apparatus placed on the land referred to in sub-paragraph (2), the statutory undertaker in question, must on receipt of a written notice to that effect from the undertaker, as soon as reasonably possible use its best endeavours to obtain the necessary facilities and rights in other land in which the alternative apparatus is to be constructed

(4) The statutory undertaker in question must, after the alternative apparatus to be provided or constructed has been agreed or settled by arbitration in accordance with article 49 (arbitration), and after the grant to the statutory undertaker of any such facilities and rights as are referred to in sub-paragraph (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 this Part.

(5) Despite anything in sub-paragraph (4), if the undertaker gives notice in writing to the statutory undertaker in question that it desires itself to execute any work, or part of any work in connection with the construction or removal of apparatus, that work, instead of being executed by the statutory undertaker, must be executed by the undertaker without unnecessary delay under the superintendence, if given, and to the reasonable satisfaction of the statutory undertaker.

(6) Nothing in sub-paragraph (5) authorises the undertaker to execute the placing, installation, bedding, packing, removal, connection or disconnection of any apparatus, or execute any filling around the apparatus (where the apparatus is laid in a trench) within 300 millimetres of the apparatus.

6.—(1) Not less than 28 days before starting the execution of any works of the type referred to in paragraph 5(2) that are near to, or will or may affect, any apparatus the removal of which has not been required by the undertaker under paragraph 5(2), the undertaker must submit to the statutory undertaker in question 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 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.

(3) Any requirements made by a statutory undertaker under sub-paragraph (2) must be made within a period of 28 days beginning with the date on which a plan, section and description under sub-paragraph (1) are submitted to it.

(4) If a statutory undertaker 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, paragraph 5 applies as if the removal of the apparatus had been required by the undertaker under sub-paragraph (2) of that paragraph.

(5) Nothing in this paragraph precludes the undertaker from submitting at any time or from time to time, but in no case less than 28 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 the statutory undertaker in question 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.

7.—(1) Subject to the following provisions of this paragraph, the undertaker must pay to the statutory undertaker in question the proper and reasonable expenses reasonably incurred by that statutory undertaker in, or in connection with, the inspection, removal, alteration or protection of any apparatus.

(2) The value of any apparatus removed under this Part is to be deducted from any sum payable under sub-paragraph (1), that value being calculated after removal.

(3) If in accordance with this Part—

(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 49 to be necessary, then, if such placing involves cost in the construction of works under this Part 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 the statutory undertaker in question by virtue of sub-paragraph (1) is to be reduced by the amount of that excess.

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

(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; 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.

(5) An amount which apart from this sub-paragraph would be payable to a statutory undertaker in respect of works by virtue of sub-paragraph (1) 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 statutory undertaker in question any financial benefit by deferment of the time for renewal of the apparatus in the ordinary course, be reduced by the amount which represents that benefit.

(1)

1989 c.29.

(2)

1991 c.56.

(3)

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).