The A19/A1058 Coast Road (Junction Improvement) Development Consent Order 2016

Retained apparatus: protection

21.—(1) Not less than 56 days before commencing the execution of any works that will or may affect any apparatus, the removal or diversion of which has not been required by the undertaker under paragraph 19(2) or otherwise, the undertaker must submit to the utility undertaker in question a plan showing the works and the apparatus.

(2) In relation to works which will or may be situated on, over, under or within 15 metres measured in any direction of any apparatus, or (wherever situated) impose any load directly upon any apparatus or involve embankment works within 15 metres of any apparatus, the plan to be submitted to the utility undertaker under sub-paragraph (1) must be detailed including a material statement and describing—

(a) the exact position of the works;

(b) the level at which the works are proposed to be constructed or renewed;

(c) the manner of their construction or renewal including details of excavation, positioning of plant etc.;

(d) the position of all apparatus; and

(e) by way of detailed drawings, every alteration proposed to be made to or close to any apparatus.

(3) The undertaker must not commence the construction or renewal of any works to which sub-paragraph (1) or (2) applies until the utility undertaker has given written approval of the plan submitted under sub-paragraph (1).

(4) Any approval of the utility undertaker required under sub-paragraph (3)—

(a) may be given subject to reasonable conditions for any purpose mentioned in sub-paragraph (5) or (7);

(b) must not be unreasonably withheld or delayed; and

(c) is deemed to be granted after the expiry of 70 days from receipt by the utility undertaker of the plan if no material response to the request for approval has been provided within the initial 56 day period, provided that the undertaker must have first taken all reasonable steps to contact the relevant representatives of the utility undertaker in order to elicit such a response. In any event no work is to proceed without the utility undertaker’s consent (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

(5) In relation to a work to which sub-paragraph (2) applies, the utility undertaker may require such modifications to be made to the plans as may be reasonably necessary for the purpose of securing its system against interference or risk of damage or for the purpose of providing or securing proper and convenient means of access to any apparatus.

(6) Works executed under the Order to which this paragraph applies must be executed only in accordance with the relevant plan, notified under sub-paragraph (1) or approved (with conditions, if applicable) under sub-paragraph (4), as amended from time to time by agreement between the undertaker and the utility undertaker. The utility undertaker is entitled to watch and inspect the execution of those works.

(7) Where the utility undertaker requires any protective works (whether of a temporary or permanent nature) or subsidence monitoring to be carried out either by itself or by the undertaker, the utility undertaker must give the undertaker notice of such requirement in its approval under sub-paragraph (3), and—

(a) such protective works must be carried out to the utility undertaker’s reasonable satisfaction prior to the carrying out of the relevant part of the works;

(b) ground subsidence monitoring must be carried out in accordance with a scheme approved by the utility undertaker (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), which must set out—

(i) the apparatus which is to be subject to such monitoring;

(ii) the extent of land to be monitored;

(iii) the manner in which ground levels are to be monitored;

(iv) the timescales of any monitoring activities; and

(v) the extent of ground subsidence which, if exceeded, is to require the undertaker to submit for the utility undertaker’s approval a ground subsidence mitigation scheme in respect of such subsidence;

(c) if a subsidence mitigation scheme is required, it must be carried out as approved (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

(8) Nothing in this paragraph precludes the undertaker from submitting at any time or from time to time, but in no case less than 56 days before commencing the execution of the relevant works, a new plan, instead of the plan previously submitted, and having done so the provisions of this paragraph apply to and in respect of the new plan.

(9) The undertaker is not required to comply with sub-paragraph (1) or (2) where it needs to carry out emergency works as defined in the 1991 Act, but in that case it must give to the utility undertaker notice as soon as is reasonably practicable and a plan of those works to comply with the other requirements in this paragraph in so far as is reasonably practicable in the circumstances, provided that the undertaker always complies with sub-paragraph (10).

(10) At all times when carrying out any works authorised under this Order, the undertaker must comply with the utility undertaker’s policies for safe working in proximity to gas apparatus “Specification for safe working in the vicinity of Northern Gas Networks, Gas pipelines and associated installation requirements for third parties NGN/SPSSW22” and Health and Safety Executive guidance document “HS(G)47 Avoiding Danger from underground services”.