28.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2) the undertaker may during the maintenance period—
(a)enter on and take temporary possession of any land within the Order limits if such possession is reasonably required for the purpose of maintaining the authorised project;
(b)enter on any land within the Order limits for the purpose of gaining access as is reasonably required for the purpose of maintaining the authorised project; and
(c)construct such temporary works (including the provision of means of access) and buildings on the land as may be reasonably necessary for that purpose.
(2) Paragraph (1) does not authorise the undertaker to take temporary possession of—
(a)any house or garden belonging to a house; or
(b)any building (other than a house) if it is for the time being occupied.
(3) Not less than 28 days before entering on and taking temporary possession of land under this article the undertaker must serve notice of the intended entry on the owners and occupiers of the land, except as provided in paragraph (11).
(4) The undertaker may only remain in possession of land under this article for so long as may be reasonably necessary to carry out the maintenance of the part of the authorised project for which possession of the land was taken.
(5) Before giving up possession of land of which temporary possession has been taken under this article, the undertaker must remove all temporary works and restore the land to the reasonable satisfaction of the owners of the land.
(6) The undertaker 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.
(7) Any dispute as to a person’s entitlement to compensation under paragraph (6), or as to the amount of the compensation, must be determined under Part 1 of the 1961 Act.
(8) Nothing in this article affects any liability to pay compensation under section 10(2) of the 1965 Act (further provisions as to compensation for injurious affection) or under any other enactment in respect of loss or damage arising from the maintenance of the authorised project, other than loss or damage for which compensation is payable under paragraph (6).
(9) Where the undertaker takes possession of land under this article, the undertaker is not required to acquire the land or any interest in it.
(10) 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).
(11) Where the undertaker has identified a potential risk to the safety of—
(a)the authorised project or any part of it; or
(b)the public; or
(c)the surrounding environment,
the requirement to serve not less than 28 days’ notice under paragraph (3) does not apply and the undertaker may enter the land pursuant to paragraph (1) subject to giving such period of notice (if any) as is reasonably practicable in all the circumstances.
(12) In this article the “maintenance period” means in relation to any part of the authorised project the period of five years beginning with the date on which the authorised project is first brought into operational use for the purpose for which it was designed.
Commencement Information
I1Art. 28 in force at 15.9.2016, see art. 1