The Sunnica Energy Farm Order 2024

• Citation: S.I. 2024/802
• Sections: 254

Section 1 Citation and commencement

This Order may be cited as the Sunnica Energy Farm Order 2024 and comes into force on 3rd August 2024.

Section 2 Interpretation

(1) In this Order—

“ the 1961 Act ” means the Land Compensation Act 1961 ;

“ the 1965 Act ” means the Compulsory Purchase Act 1965 ;

“ the 1980 Act ” means the Highways Act 1980 ;

“ the 1981 Act ” means the Compulsory Purchase (Vesting Declarations) Act 1981 ;

“ the 1984 Act ” means the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 ;

“ the 1989 Act ” means the Electricity Act 1989 ;

“ the 1990 Act ” means the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 ;

“ the 1991 Act ” means the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 ;

“ the 2008 Act ” means the Planning Act 2008 ;

“ access and rights of way plans ” means the plans of that name identified in the table at Schedule 10 (documents and plans to be certified) and which are certified by the Secretary of State as the access and rights of way plans for the purposes of this Order;

“ address ” includes any number or address used for the purposes of electronic transmission;

“ apparatus ” has the same meaning as in Part 3 (street works in England and Wales) of the 1991 Act except that, unless otherwise provided, it further includes pipelines (and parts of them), aerial markers, cathodic protection test posts, field boundary markers, transformer rectifier kiosks, electricity cables (but excluding the electrical cables as defined in this article), telecommunications equipment and electricity cabinets;

“ authorised development ” means the development described in Schedule 1 (authorised development) and any other development within the meaning of section 32 (meaning of “ development ”) of the 2008 Act authorised by this Order;

“ arboricultural impact assessment ” means the document of that name identified in the table at Schedule 10 (documents and plans to be certified) and which is certified by the Secretary of State as the arboricultural impact assessment for the purposes of this Order;

“ book of reference ” means the document of that name identified in the table at Schedule 10 (documents and plans to be certified) and which is certified by the Secretary of State as the book of reference for the purposes of this Order;

“ building ” includes any structure or erection or any part of a building, structure or erection;

“ carriageway ” has the same meaning as in the 1980 Act;

“ commence ” means beginning to carry out a material operation, as defined in section 155 (when development begins) of the 2008 Act, comprised in or carried out for the purposes of the authorised development other than the permitted preliminary works (except where stated to the contrary) and “commencement” and “commenced” are to be construed accordingly;

“ commercial use ” means the export of electricity from any phase, and the import of electricity to any phase, by the authorised development on a commercial basis, following the date of final commissioning of any phase of the authorised development;

“ crash site exclusion area ” means the area of land shown on the crash site exclusion area plan identified in the table at Schedule 10 (documents and plans to be certified) and which is certified by the Secretary of State as the crash site exclusion area plan for the purposes of this Order;

“ date of final commissioning ” means in respect of each phase of the authorised development as approved under requirement 3 of Schedule 2 (requirements) the date on which each phase of the authorised development commences operation by generating electricity on a commercial basis but excluding the generation of electricity during commissioning and testing;

“ Deed of Obligation ” means the agreement between (1) Sunnica Limited (company number 08826077) (2) Cambridgeshire County Council and (3) Suffolk County Council dated 28 March 2023, and which is certified by the Secretary of State as the Deed of Obligation and any modifications to the agreement under article 45 (enforcement, modification and discharge of the Deed of Obligation) from time to time;

“ design principles ” means the document of that name identified in the table at Schedule 10 (documents and plans to be certified) and which is certified by the Secretary of State as the design principles for the purposes of this Order;

“ detailed archaeology mitigation strategy ” means the document of that name identified in the table at Schedule 10 (documents and plans to be certified) and which is certified by the Secretary of State as the detailed archaeology mitigation strategy for the purposes of this Order;

“ drainage technical note ” means the document of that name identified in the table at Schedule 10 (documents and plans to be certified) and which is certified by the Secretary of State as the drainage technical note for the purposes of this Order;

“ electrical cables ” means—

with respect to Work Nos. 1, 2 and 3, 33 kilovolt cables, low voltage cables, earthing cables and optical fibre cables;

with respect to Work No. 4, 33 kilovolt cables, 400 kilovolt cables, earthing cables and optical fibre cables;

data cables and auxiliary cables in respect of the above cables; and

works associated with laying the above cables including jointing bays, fibre bays, cable ducts, cable protection, joint protection, manholes, kiosks, marker posts, underground cable marker, tiles and tape, send and receive pits for horizontal directional drilling, trenching, lighting, and a pit or container to capture fluids associated with drilling;

“ electronic transmission ” means a communication transmitted—

by means of an electronic communications network; or

by other means but while in electronic form;

“ environmental statement ” means the document of that name identified in Schedule 10 (documents and plans to be certified) and which is certified by the Secretary of State as the environmental statement for the purposes of this Order;

“ flood risk assessment ” means the document of that name identified in the table at Schedule 10 (documents and plans to be certified) and which is certified by the Secretary of State as the flood risk assessment for the purposes of this Order;

“ footpath ” and “ footway ” have the same meaning as in the 1980 Act;

“ framework construction environmental management plan ” means the document of that name identified in the table at Schedule 10 (documents and plans to be certified) and which is certified by the Secretary of State as the framework construction environmental management plan for the purposes of this Order;

“ framework construction traffic management plan and travel plan ” means the document of that name identified in the table at Schedule 10 (documents and plans to be certified) and which is certified by the Secretary of State as the framework construction traffic management plan and travel plan for the purposes of this Order;

“ framework decommissioning environmental management plan ” means the plan of that name identified in the table at Schedule 10 (documents and plans to be certified) and which is certified by the Secretary of State as the framework decommissioning environmental management plan for the purposes of this Order;

“ framework operational environmental management plan ” means the document of that name identified in the table at Schedule 10 (documents and plans to be certified) and which is certified by the Secretary of State as the framework operational environmental management plan for the purposes of this Order;

“ highway ” and “ highway authority ” have the same meaning as in the 1980 Act ;

“ holding company ” has the same meaning as in section 1159 (meaning of “subsidiary” etc) of the Companies Act 2006 ;

“ land and Crown land plans ” means the plans of that name identified in the table at Schedule 10 (documents and plans to be certified) and which are certified by the Secretary of State as the land and Crown land plans for the purposes of this Order;

“ limits of deviation ” means the limits of deviation shown for each numbered work on the works plans;

“ maintain ” includes inspect, repair, adjust, alter, remove, refurbish, reconstruct, replace and improve any part of, but not remove, reconstruct or replace the whole of, the authorised development and “maintenance” and “maintaining” are to be construed accordingly;

“ NGET ” means National Grid Electricity Transmission Plc (company number 2366977) whose registered office is at 1 to 3 Strand, London WC2N 5EH;

“ Order land ” means the land shown on the land and Crown land plans which is within the limits of land to be acquired or used and described in the book of reference;

“ Order limits ” means the limits shown on the land and Crown land plans and works plans within which the authorised development may be carried out and land acquired or used;

“ outline battery fire safety management plan ” means the plan of that name identified in the table at Schedule 10 (documents and plans to be certified) and which is certified by the Secretary of State as the outline battery fire safety management plan for the purposes of this Order;

“ outline landscape and ecology management plan ” means the document of that name identified in the table at Schedule 10 (documents and plans to be certified) and which is certified by the Secretary of State as the outline landscape and ecology management plan for the purposes of this Order;

“ outline skills, supply chain and employment plan ” means the plan of that name identified in the table at Schedule 10 (documents and plans to be certified) and which is certified by the Secretary of State as the outline skills, supply chain and employment plan for the purposes of this Order;

“ owner ”, in relation to land, has the same meaning as in section 7 (interpretation) of the Acquisition of Land Act 1981 ;

“ permitted preliminary works ” means all or any of—

environmental surveys, geotechnical surveys, intrusive archaeological surveys and other investigations for the purpose of assessing ground conditions;

above ground site preparation for temporary facilities for the use of contractors;

remedial work in respect of any contamination or other adverse ground conditions;

diversion and laying of apparatus;

the provision of temporary means of enclosure and site security for construction;

the temporary display of site notices or advertisements;

removal of plant and machinery; or

site clearance (including vegetation removal and demolition of buildings);

“ permitted preliminary works traffic management and access plan ” means the traffic management plan of that name to be submitted and approved pursuant to requirement 16(4) in relation to the permitted preliminary works referred to in that requirement;

“ plot ” means any plot as may be identified by reference to a number and which is listed in the book of reference and shown on the land and Crown land plans;

“ potential expanded crash site exclusion area ” means the area of land shown on the plan of that name identified in the table at Schedule 10 (documents and plans to be certified) and which is certified by the Secretary of State as the potential expanded crash site exclusion area plan for the purposes of this Order;

“ relevant county authority ” means the county council for the area in which the land to which the provisions of this Order apply is situated;

“ relevant planning authority ” means the district planning authority for the area in which the land to which the provisions of this Order apply is situated;

“ requirements ” means those matters set out in Schedule 2 (requirements) and “ requirement ” means any one of the requirements;

“ restoration overlap plan ” means the plan showing the overlap between the Order limits and the limits of the Worlington Quarry planning permission identified in the table at Schedule 10 (documents and plans to be certified) and which is certified by the Secretary of State as the restoration overlap plan for the purposes of this Order;

“ statutory undertaker ” means any person falling within section 127(8) (statutory undertakers’ land) of the 2008 Act and includes a public communications provider defined by section 151(1) (interpretation of chapter 1) of the Communications Act 2003 ;

“ street ” means a street within the meaning of section 48 (streets, street works and undertakers) of the 1991 Act, together with land on the verge of a street or between two carriageways, and includes any footpath and part of a street;

“ street authority ”, in relation to a street, has the same meaning as in Part 3 of the 1991 Act ;

“ street works ” means the works listed in article 8(1) (street works);

“ subsidiary ” has the same meaning as in section 1159 (meaning of “subsidiary” etc) of the Companies Act 2006 ;

“ traffic authority ” has the same meaning as in section 121A (traffic authorities) of the 1984 Act;

“traffic regulation measures plans – temporary measures” means the plans of that name identified in the table at Schedule 10 (documents and plans to be certified) and which is certified by the Secretary of State as the traffic regulation measures plans – temporary measures for the purposes of this Order;

“traffic regulation measures plans – temporary road closures” means the plans of that name identified in the table at Schedule 10 (documents and plans to be certified) and which is certified by the Secretary of State as the traffic regulation measures plans – temporary road closures for the purposes of this Order;

“ tree preservation order trees location plan ” means the plan of that description as referenced in Schedule 10 (documents and plans to be certified) and which is certified by the Secretary of State as the tree preservation order trees location plan for the purposes of this Order;

“ undertaker ” means Sunnica Limited (company number 08826077);

“ Upper Tribunal ” means the Lands Chamber of the Upper Tribunal;

“ watercourse ” includes every river, stream, creek, ditch, drain, canal, cut, culvert, dyke, sluice, sewer and passage through which water flows except a public sewer or drain;

“ works plans ” means the plans of that name identified in the table at Schedule 10 (documents and plans to be certified) and which is certified by the Secretary of State as the works plans for the purposes of this Order; and

“ Worlington Quarry planning permission ” means planning permission F/04/022 granted by Suffolk County Council on 9 August 2004 as subsequently varied by application reference F/15/1386 (approved on 2 October 2015) and SCC/0273/16F6 (approved on 24 February 2017).

(2) References in this Order to rights over land include references to rights to do or restrain or to place and maintain anything in, on or under land or in the airspace above its surface and to any trusts or incidents (including restrictive covenants) to which the land is subject and references in this Order to the imposition of restrictive covenants are references to the creation of rights over land which interfere with the interests or rights of another and are for the benefit of land which is acquired under this Order or over which rights are created and acquired under this Order or is otherwise comprised in this Order.

(3) All distances, directions, capacities and lengths referred to in this Order are approximate and distances between lines or points on a numbered work comprised in the authorised development and shown on the works plans and access and rights of way plans are to be taken to be measured along that work.

(4) References in this Order to numbered works are references to the works comprising the authorised development as numbered in Schedule 1 (authorised development) and shown on the works plans and a reference in this Order to a work designated by a number, or by a combination of letters and numbers, is a reference to the work so designated in that Schedule and a reference to “Work No. 1” or “ numbered work 1 ” means numbered works 1A to 1C inclusive and the same principle applies to such numbered works that contain letters.

(5) In this Order, the expression “ includes ” is to be construed without limitation.

(6) In this Order, references to any statutory body include that body’s successor bodies.

(7) All areas described in square metres in the book of reference are approximate.

Section 3 Development consent etc. granted by this Order

(1) Subject to the provisions of this Order and the requirements, the undertaker is granted development consent for the authorised development to be carried out within the Order limits.

(2) Each numbered work must be situated within the corresponding numbered area shown on the works plans and within the limits of deviation.

Section 4 Operation of generating station

(1) The undertaker is authorised to use and operate the generating station comprised in the authorised development.

(2) This article does not relieve the undertaker of any requirement to obtain any permit or licence under any other legislation that may be required from time to time to authorise the operation of an electricity generating station.

Section 5 Power to maintain the authorised development

(1) The undertaker may at any time maintain the authorised development.

(2) This article only authorises the carrying out of maintenance works within the Order limits.

(3) This article does not authorise the carrying out of any works which are likely to give rise to any materially new or materially different effects that have not been assessed in the environmental statement.

Section 6 Disapplication of legislation, etc.

(1) The following provisions do not apply in relation to the construction of any work or the carrying out of any operation required for the purposes of, or in connection with, the construction, operation or maintenance of any part of the authorised development—

(a) Section 23 (prohibition of obstructions, etc. in watercourses) of the Land Drainage Act 1991 ;

(b) section 32 (variation of awards) of the Land Drainage Act 1991;

(c) the provisions of any byelaws made under section 66 (powers to make byelaws) of the Land Drainage Act 1991;

(d) the provisions of any byelaws made under, or having effect as if made under, paragraphs 5, 6 or 6A of Schedule 25 (byelaw-making powers of the authority) to the Water Resources Act 1991 ;

(e) regulation 12 (requirement for environmental permit) of the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 in respect of a flood risk activity only;

(f) the legislation listed in Schedule 3 (legislation to be disapplied) in so far as the provisions still in force are incompatible with the powers contained within this Order; and

(g) the provisions of the Neighbourhood Planning Act 2017 insofar as they relate to temporary possession of land under articles 26 (temporary use of land for constructing the authorised development) and 27 (temporary use of land for maintaining the authorised development) of this Order.

(2) For the purposes of section 9 (requirement of licence for felling) of the Forestry Act 1967 , any felling comprised in the carrying out of any work or operation required for the purposes of, or in connection with, the construction of the authorised development is deemed to be immediately required for the purpose of carrying out development authorised by planning permission granted under the 1990 Act.

(3) As from the date on which the permitted preliminary works are carried out or the authorised development is commenced, whichever is the earlier, any conditions of the Worlington Quarry planning permission that relate to the land coloured yellow on the restoration overlap plan cease to have effect to the extent that they are inconsistent with the authorised development or with anything done or approved under Schedule 2 (requirements).

Section 7 Defence to proceedings in respect of statutory nuisance

(1) Where proceedings are brought under section 82(1) (summary proceedings by a person aggrieved by statutory nuisance) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 in relation to a nuisance falling within paragraph (g) of section 79(1) (noise emitted from premises so as to be prejudicial to health or a nuisance) of that Act no order may be made, and no fine may be imposed, under section 82(2) of that Act if the defendant shows that the nuisance—

(a) relates to premises used by the undertaker for the purposes of or in connection with the construction or maintenance of the authorised development and that the nuisance is attributable to the construction of the authorised development in accordance with a notice served under section 60 (control of noise on construction site), or a consent given under section 61 (prior consent for work on construction site) or section 65 (noise exceeding registered level) of the Control of Pollution Act 1974 ; or

(b) is a consequence of the construction or maintenance of the authorised development and that it cannot reasonably be avoided; or

(c) is a consequence of the use of the authorised development and that it cannot be reasonably be avoided.

(2) Section 61(9) (prior consent for work on construction sites) of the Control of Pollution Act 1974 does not apply where the consent relates to the use of the premises by the undertaker for purposes of, or in connection with, the construction or maintenance of the authorised development.

Section 8 Street Works

(1) The undertaker may, for the purposes of the authorised development, enter on so much of any of the streets specified in Schedule 4 (streets subject to street works) and may—

(a) break up or open the street, or any sewer, drain or tunnel under it;

(b) drill, tunnel or bore under the street;

(c) place and keep apparatus under the street;

(d) maintain apparatus under the street, change its position or remove it;

(e) repair, replace or otherwise alter the surface or structure of the street; and

(f) execute any works required for or incidental to any works referred to in sub-paragraphs (a) to (e).

(2) The authority given by paragraph (1) is a statutory right for the purposes of sections 48(3) (streets, street works and undertakers) and 51(1) (prohibition of unauthorised street works) of the 1991 Act.

(3) In this article “ apparatus ” has the same meaning as in Part 3 of the 1991 Act.

(4) Where the undertaker is not the street authority, the provisions of sections 54 (notice of certain works) to 106 (index of defined expressions) of the 1991 Act apply to any street works carried out until paragraph (1) .

Section 9 Power to alter layout, etc., of streets

(1) The undertaker may for the purposes of the authorised development alter the layout of or carry out any works in the street—

(a) in the case of the streets specified in column 2 of the table in Part 1 (permanent alteration of layout) of Schedule 5 (alteration of streets) permanently in the manner specified in relation to that street in column 3; and

(b) in the case of the streets specified in column 2 of the table in Part 2 (temporary alteration of layout) of Schedule 5 temporarily in the manner specified in relation to that street in column 3.

(2) Without prejudice to the specific powers conferred by paragraph (1), but subject to paragraphs (3) and (4), the undertaker may, for the purposes of constructing, operating or maintaining the authorised development, alter the layout of any street and, without limitation on the scope of this paragraph, the undertaker may—

(a) alter the level or increase the width of any kerb, footway, cycle track or verge; and

(b) make and maintain passing places.

(3) The undertaker must restore any street that has been temporarily altered under this Order to the reasonable satisfaction of the street authority.

(4) The powers conferred by paragraph (2) may not be exercised without the consent of the street authority.

(5) Paragraphs (3) and (4) do not apply where the undertaker is the street authority for a street in which the works are being carried out.

Section 10 Construction and maintenance of altered streets

(1) The permanent alterations to each of the streets specified in Part 1 (permanent alteration of layout) of Schedule 5 (alteration of streets) to this Order must be completed to the reasonable satisfaction of the highway authority and, unless otherwise agreed by the highway authority, the alterations must be maintained by and at the expense of the undertaker for a period of 12 months from their completion and from the expiry of that period by and at the expense of the highway authority.

(2) Subject to paragraph (3) , the temporary alterations to each of the streets specified in Part 2 (temporary alteration of layout) of Schedule 5 must be completed to the reasonable satisfaction of the street authority and the temporary alterations must be maintained by and at the expense of the undertaker.

(3) Those restoration works carried out pursuant to article 9(3) (power to alter layout, etc., of streets) must be completed to the reasonable satisfaction of the street authority and must be maintained by the undertaker for a period of 12 months from their completion and from the expiry of that period by and at the expense of the street authority.

(4) In any action against the undertaker in respect of loss or damage resulting from any failure by it to maintain a street under this article, it is a defence (without prejudice to any other defence or the application of the law relating to contributory negligence) to prove that the undertaker had taken such care as in all the circumstances was reasonably required to secure that the part of the street to which the action relates was not dangerous to traffic.

(5) For the purposes of a defence under paragraph (4), a court must in particular have regard to the following matters—

(a) the character of the street including the traffic which was reasonably to be expected to use it;

(b) the standard of maintenance appropriate for a street of that character and used by such traffic;

(c) the state of repair in which a reasonable person would have expected to find the street;

(d) whether the undertaker knew, or could reasonably have been expected to know, that the condition of the part of the street to which the action relates was likely to cause danger to users of the street; and

(e) where the undertaker could not reasonably have been expected to repair that part of the street before the cause of action arose, what warning notices of its condition had been displayed,

but for the purposes of such a defence it is not relevant that the undertaker had arranged for a competent person to carry out or supervise the maintenance of that part of the street to which the action relates unless it is also proved that the undertaker had given that person proper instructions with regard to the maintenance of the street and that those instructions had been carried out.

Section 11 Temporary closure of public rights of way

(1) The undertaker, during and for the purposes of constructing or maintaining the authorised development, may temporarily close, prohibit the use of, authorise the use of, alter or divert any public right of way and may for any reasonable time—

(a) divert the traffic or a class of traffic from the public right of way;

(b) authorise for the purpose of crossing only the use of motor vehicles on classes of public rights of way where, notwithstanding the provisions of this article, there is otherwise no public right to use motor vehicles; and

(c) subject to paragraph (2), prevent all persons from passing along the public right of way.

(2) The undertaker must provide reasonable access for pedestrians going to or from premises abutting a public right of way affected by the temporary closure, prohibition, restriction, alteration or diversion of a public right of way under this article if there would otherwise be no such access.

(3) Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (1), the undertaker may temporarily close, prohibit the use of, authorise the use of, restrict the use of, alter or divert—

(a) the public rights of way specified in column 2 of the table in Part 1 (public rights of way to be temporarily closed) of Schedule 6 (public rights of way) to the extent specified in column 3 of that table; and

(b) the public rights of way specified in column 2 of the table in Part 2 (temporary use of motor vehicles on public rights of way) of Schedule 6 to the extent specified in column 3 of that table.

(4) The undertaker must not temporarily close, prohibit the use of, restrict the use of, authorise the use of, alter or divert—

(a) any public right of way specified in paragraph (3) without first consulting the street authority during a period of not less than 28 days; and

(b) any other public right of way without the consent of the street authority, and the street authority may attach reasonable conditions to any such consent.

(5) Any person who suffers loss by the suspension of any private right of way under this article is entitled to compensation to be determined, in case of dispute, under Part 1 (determination of questions of disputed compensation) of the 1961 Act.

(6) Without prejudice to the scope of paragraph (1), the undertaker may use any public right of way which has been temporarily closed under the powers conferred by this article and within the Order limits as a temporary working site.

(7) In this article expressions used in this article and in the 1984 Act have the same meaning.

(8) The undertaker must restore any public right of way that has been temporarily altered under this Order to the reasonable satisfaction of the street authority.

Section 12 Access to works

The undertaker may, for the purposes of the authorised development—

(a) form and lay out the permanent means of access, or improve existing means of access, in the locations specified in Part 1 (permanent means of access to works) of Schedule 7 (access to works);

(b) form and lay out the temporary means of access in the location specified in Part 2 (temporary means of access to works) of Schedule 7; and

(c) with the approval of the relevant planning authority after consultation with the highway authority, form and lay out such other means of access or improve existing means of access, at such locations within the Order limits as the undertaker reasonably requires for the purposes of the authorised development.

Section 13 Agreements with street authorities

(1) A street authority and the undertaker may enter into agreements with respect to—

(a) the strengthening, improvement, repair or reconstruction of any street under the powers conferred by this Order;

(b) any closure, prohibition, restriction, alteration or diversion of a street authorised by this Order;

(c) the undertaking in the street of any of the works referred to in article 8 (street works) article 9 (power to alter layout, etc., of streets) and article 10(1) (construction and maintenance of altered streets) ; or

(d) the adoption by a street authority which is the highway authority of works—

(i) undertaken on a street which is existing public maintainable highway; or

(ii) which the undertaker and highway authority agree to be adopted as public maintainable highway.

(2) If such an agreement provides that the street authority must undertake works on behalf of the undertaker the agreement may, without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (1)—

(a) make provision for the street authority to carry out any function under this Order which relates to the street in question;

(b) specify a reasonable time for the completion of the works; and

(c) contain such terms as to payment and otherwise as the parties consider appropriate.

Section 14 Discharge of water

(1) Subject to paragraphs (3) , (4) and (8) the undertaker may use any watercourse or any public sewer or drain for the drainage of water in connection with the construction or maintenance of the authorised development and for that purpose may lay down, take up and alter pipes and may, on any land within the Order limits, make openings into, and connections with, the watercourse, public sewer or drain.

(2) Any dispute arising from the making of connections to or the use of a public sewer or drain by the undertaker under paragraph (1) is to be determined as if it were a dispute under section 106 (right to communicate with public sewers) of the Water Industry Act 1991 .

(3) The undertaker must not discharge any water into any watercourse, public sewer or drain except with the consent of the person to whom it belongs, whose consent may be given subject to terms and conditions as that person may reasonably impose.

(4) The undertaker must not make any opening into any public sewer or drain except—

(a) in accordance with plans approved by the person to whom the sewer or drain belongs; and

(b) where that person has been given the opportunity to supervise the making of the opening.

(5) Where the undertaker discharges water into, or makes any opening into, a watercourse, public sewer or drain belonging to or under the control of the Swaffham Internal Drainage Board, the provisions of Part 8 of Schedule 12 (protective provisions) apply in substitution for the provisions of paragraphs (3) and (4) .

(6) The undertaker must take such steps as are reasonably practicable to secure that any water discharged into a watercourse or public sewer or drain pursuant to this article is as free as may be practicable from gravel, soil or other solid substance, oil or matter in suspension.

(7) This article does not authorise the entry into controlled waters of any matter whose entry or discharge into controlled waters requires a licence pursuant to the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 .

(8) In this article—

(a) “ public sewer or drain ” means a sewer or drain which belongs to Homes England, the Environment Agency, an internal drainage board, a joint planning board, a local authority, a National Park Authority, a sewerage undertaker or an urban development corporation; and

(b) other expressions, excluding watercourse, used both in this article and in the Water Resources Act 1991 have the same meaning as in that Act.

Section 15 Protective works to buildings

(1) Subject to the following provisions of this article, the undertaker may at its own expense carry out such protective works to any building lying within the Order limits as the undertaker considers necessary or expedient.

(2) Protective works may be carried out—

(a) at any time before or during the construction of any part of the authorised development in the vicinity of the building; or

(b) after the completion of that part of the authorised development in the vicinity of the building at any time up to the end of the period of five years beginning with the date of final commissioning.

(3) For the purpose of determining how the powers under this article are to be exercised, the undertaker may enter and survey any building falling within paragraph (1) and any land within its curtilage.

(4) For the purpose of carrying out protective works under this article to a building, the undertaker may (subject to paragraphs (5) and (6))—

(a) enter the building and any land within its curtilage; and

(b) where the works cannot be carried out reasonably conveniently without entering land which is adjacent to the building but outside its curtilage, enter the adjacent land (but not any building erected on it).

(5) Before exercising—

(a) a right under paragraph (1) to carry out protective works to a building;

(b) a right under paragraph (3) to enter a building and land within its curtilage;

(c) a right under paragraph (4)(a) to enter a building and land within its curtilage; or

(d) a right under paragraph (4)(b) to enter land,

the undertaker must, except in the case of emergency, serve on the owners and occupiers of the building or land not less than 14 days’ notice of its intention to exercise that right and, in a case falling within sub-paragraph (a), (c) or (d) , specifying the protective works proposed to be carried out.

(6) Where a notice is served under paragraph (5)(a), (5)(c) or (5)(d), the owner or occupier of the building or land concerned may, by serving a counter-notice within the period of 10 days beginning with the day on which the notice was served, require the question whether it is necessary or expedient to carry out the protective works or to enter the building or land to be referred to arbitration under article 38 (arbitration).

(7) The undertaker must compensate the owners and occupiers of any building or land in relation to which rights under this article have been exercised for any loss or damage arising to them by reason of the exercise of those rights.

(8) Where—

(a) protective works are carried out under this article to a building; and

(b) within the period of five years beginning with the date of final commissioning it appears protective works are inadequate to protect the building against damage caused by the construction or use of that part of the authorised development,

the undertaker must compensate the owners and occupiers of the building for any loss or damage sustained by them.

(9) Nothing in this article relieves the undertaker from any liability to pay compensation under section 10(2) (compensation for injurious affection) of the 1965 Act.

(10) Any compensation payable under paragraph (7) or (8) must be determined, in case of dispute, under Part 1 (determination of questions of disputed compensation) of the 1961 Act.

(11) In this article “ protective works ” in relation to a building means—

(a) underpinning, strengthening and any other works the purpose of which is to prevent damage which may be caused to the building by the construction, maintenance or use of the authorised development; and

(b) any works the purpose of which is to remedy any damage which has been caused to the building by the construction, maintenance or use of the authorised development.

Section 16 Authority to survey and investigate the land

(1) The undertaker may for the purposes of this Order enter on any land shown within the Order limits or which may be affected by the authorised development or upon which entry is required in order to carry out monitoring or surveys in respect of the authorised development and—

(a) survey or investigate the land;

(b) without prejudice to the generality of sub-paragraph (a), make trial holes in such positions on the land as the undertaker thinks fit to investigate the nature of the surface layer and subsoil and remove soil samples;

(c) without prejudice to the generality of sub-paragraph (a), carry out ecological or archaeological investigations on such land including making trial trenches in such positions on the land as the undertaker thinks fit to carry out archaeological and site investigations; and

(d) place on, leave on and remove from the land apparatus and welfare facilities for use in connection with the survey and investigation of land and making of trial holes and trial trenches.

(2) No land may be entered or equipment placed or left on or removed from the land under paragraph (1) unless at least 14 days’ notice has been served on every owner and occupier of the land.

(3) Any person entering land under this article on behalf of the undertaker—

(a) must, if so required before entering the land, produce written evidence of their authority to do so; and

(b) may take with them such vehicles and equipment as are necessary to carry out the survey or investigation or to make the trial holes.

(4) No trial holes are to be made under this article—

(a) in land located within the highway boundary without the consent of the highway authority; or

(b) in a private street without the consent of the street authority.

(5) Following completion of any survey, monitoring or investigation works the undertaker must remove all equipment, apparatus and welfare facilities placed on the land in connection with such survey, monitoring or investigations.

(6) The undertaker must compensate the owners and occupiers of the land for any loss or damage arising by reason of the exercise of the authority conferred by this article, such compensation to be determined, in case of dispute, under Part 1 (determination of questions of disputed compensation) of the 1961 Act.

(7) Section 13 (refusal to give possession to acquiring authority) of the 1965 Act applies to the entry onto, or possession of, land under this article to the same extent as it applies to the compulsory acquisition of land under this Order by virtue of section 125 (application of compulsory acquisition provisions) of the 2008 Act.

Section 17 Compulsory acquisition of land

(1) The undertaker may acquire compulsorily so much of the Order land as is required for the authorised development or to facilitate it, or as is incidental to it.

(2) This article is subject to paragraph (2) of article 19 (compulsory acquisition of rights), article 26 (temporary use of land for constructing the authorised development) and article 44 (Crown rights).

Section 18 Time limit for exercise of authority to acquire land compulsorily

(1) After the end of the period of five years beginning on the day on which this Order is made—

(a) no notice to treat is to be served under Part 1 (compulsory purchase under Acquisition of Land Act 1946) of the 1965 Act; and

(b) no declaration is to be executed under section 4 (execution of declaration) of the 1981 Act as applied by article 21 (application of the 1981 Act).

(2) The authority conferred by article 26 (temporary use of land for constructing the authorised development) ceases at the end of the period referred to in paragraph (1), except that nothing in this paragraph prevents the undertaker remaining in possession of land after the end of that period, if the land was entered and possession was taken before the end of that period.

Section 19 Compulsory acquisition of rights

(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the undertaker may acquire compulsorily such rights over the Order land or impose such restrictive covenants over the Order land as may be required for any purpose for which that land may be acquired under article 17 (compulsory acquisition of land), by creating them as well as by acquiring rights already in existence.

(2) Subject to the provisions of this paragraph, article 20 (private rights) and article 28 (statutory undertakers), in the case of the Order land specified in column 1 of Schedule 8 (land in which only new rights etc. may be acquired) the undertaker’s powers of compulsory acquisition are limited to the acquisition of such new rights and the imposition of restrictive covenants for the purpose specified in relation to that land in column 2 of that Schedule.

(3) Subject to section 8 (other provisions as to divided land) and Schedule 2A (counter-notice requiring purchase of land) of the 1965 Act (as substituted by paragraph 5(8) of Schedule 9 (modification of compensation and compulsory purchase enactments for the creation of new rights and imposition of new restrictive covenants)), where the undertaker creates or acquires an existing right over land or the benefit of a restrictive covenant under paragraph (1) or (2), the undertaker is not required to acquire a greater interest in that land.

(4) Schedule 9 (modification of compensation and compulsory purchase enactments for the creation of new rights and imposition of new restrictive covenants) has effect for the purpose of modifying the enactments relating to compensation and the provisions of the 1965 Act in their application in relation to the compulsory acquisition under this article of a right over land by the creation of a new right or the imposition of restrictive covenants.

(5) In any case where the acquisition of new rights or imposition of a restriction under paragraph (1) or (2) is required for the purpose of diverting, replacing or protecting apparatus of a statutory undertaker, the undertaker may, with the consent of the Secretary of State, transfer the power to acquire such rights to the statutory undertaker in question.

(6) The exercise by a statutory undertaker of any power in accordance with a transfer under paragraph (5) is subject to the same restrictions, liabilities and obligations as would apply under this Order if that power were exercised by the undertaker.

(7) This article is subject to article 44 (Crown rights).

Section 20 Private Rights

(1) Subject to the provisions of this article, all private rights over land subject to compulsory acquisition under this Order are extinguished—

(a) from the date of acquisition of the land, or of the right, or of the benefit of the restrictive covenant by the undertaker, whether compulsorily or by agreement; or

(b) on the date of entry on the land by the undertaker under section 11(1) (power of entry) of the 1965 Act,

whichever is the earliest.

(2) Subject to the provisions of this article, all private rights or restrictive covenants over land subject to the compulsory acquisition of rights or the imposition of restrictive covenants under article 19 (compulsory acquisition of rights) cease to have effect in so far as their continuance would be inconsistent with the exercise of the right or compliance with the restrictive covenant—

(a) as from the date of the acquisition of the right or imposition of the restrictive covenant by the undertaker (whether the right is acquired compulsorily, by agreement or through the grant of a lease of the land by agreement); or

(b) on the date of entry on the land by the undertaker under section 11(1) (power of entry) of the 1965 Act in pursuance of the right,

whichever is the earliest.

(3) Subject to the provisions of this article, all private rights or restrictive covenants over land of which the undertaker takes temporary possession under this Order are suspended and unenforceable, in so far as their continuance would be inconsistent with the purpose for which temporary possession is taken, for as long as the undertaker remains in lawful possession of the land.

(4) Any person who suffers loss by the extinguishment or suspension of any private right or restrictive covenant under this article is entitled to compensation in accordance with the terms of section 152 (compensation in case where no right to claim in nuisance) of the 2008 Act to be determined, in case of dispute, under Part 1 of the 1961 Act.

(5) This article does not apply in relation to any right to which section 138 (extinguishment of rights, and removal of apparatus, of statutory undertakers etc.) of the 2008 Act or article 28 (statutory undertakers) applies.

(6) Paragraphs (1) to (3) have effect subject to—

(a) any notice given by the undertaker before—

(i) the completion of the acquisition of the land or the acquisition of rights or the imposition of restrictive covenants over or affecting the land;

(ii) the undertaker’s appropriation of the land;

(iii) the undertaker’s entry onto the land; or

(iv) the undertaker’s taking temporary possession of the land,

that any or all of those paragraphs do not apply to any right specified in the notice; or

(b) any agreement made at any time between the undertaker and the person in or to whom the right in question is vested or belongs.

(7) If an agreement referred to in paragraph (6)(b)—

(a) is made with a person in or to whom the right is vested or belongs; and

(b) is expressed to have effect also for the benefit of those deriving title from or under that person,

the agreement is effective in respect of the persons so deriving title, whether that title was derived before or after the making of the agreement.

(8) References in this article to private rights over land include any right of way, trust, incident, restrictive covenant, easement, liberty, privilege, right or advantage annexed to land and adversely affecting other land, including any natural right to support; and include restrictions as to the user of land arising by virtue of a contract, agreement or undertaking having that effect.

Section 21 Application of the 1981 Act

(1) The 1981 Act applies as if this Order were a compulsory purchase order.

(2) The 1981 Act, as applied by paragraph (1), has effect with the following modifications.

(3) In section 1 (application of the Act), for subsection (2) substitute—

(2) This section applies to any Minister, any local or other public authority or any other body or person authorised to acquire land by means of a compulsory purchase order.

(4) In section 5(2) (earliest date for execution of declaration) omit the words from “and this subsection” to the end.

(5) Section 5A (time limit for general vesting declaration) is omitted .

(6) In section 5B(1) (extension of time limit during challenge) for “section 23 of the Acquisition of Land Act 1981 (application to High Court in respect of compulsory purchase order), the three year period mentioned in section 5A” substitute “section 118 (legal challenges relating to applications for orders granting development consent) of the 2008 Act, the five year period mentioned in article 18 (time limit for exercise of authority to acquire land compulsorily) of the Sunnica Energy Farm Order 2024” .

(7) In section 6 (notices after extension of declaration), in subsection (1)(b) for “section 15 of, or paragraph 6 of Schedule 1 to, the Acquisition of Land Act 1981” substitute “section 134 (notice of authorisation of compulsory acquisition) of the Planning Act 2008” .

(8) In section 7 (constructive notice to treat), in subsection (1)(a) omit the words “(as modified by section 4 of the Acquisition of Land Act 1981)”.

(9) In Schedule A1 (counter-notice requiring purchase of land not in general vesting declaration), for paragraph 1(2) substitute—

(2) But see article 22(3) (acquisition of subsoil only) of the Sunnica Energy Farm Order 2024, which excludes the acquisition of subsoil only from this Schedule.

(10) References to the 1965 Act in the 1981 Act must be construed as references to the 1965 Act as applied by section 125 (application of compulsory acquisition provisions) of the 2008 Act (and as modified by article 24 (modification of Part 1 of the Compulsory Purchase Act 1965)) to the compulsory acquisition of land under this Order.

Section 22 Acquisition of subsoil only

(1) The undertaker may acquire compulsorily so much of, or such rights in, the subsoil of the land referred to in paragraph (1) of article 17 (compulsory acquisition of land) or article 19 (compulsory acquisition of rights) as may be required for any purpose for which that land may be acquired under that provision instead of acquiring the whole of the land.

(2) Where the undertaker acquires any part of, or rights in, the subsoil of land, the undertaker is not required to acquire an interest in any other part of the land.

(3) The following do not apply in connection with the exercise of the power under paragraph (1) in relation to subsoil only—

(a) Schedule 2A (counter-notice requiring purchase of land not in notice to treat) to the 1965 Act;

(b) Schedule A1 (counter-notice requiring purchase of land not in general vesting declaration) to the 1981 Act; and

(c) section 153(4A) (blighted land: proposed acquisition of part interest; material detriment test) of the 1990 Act.

(4) Paragraphs (2) and (3) do not apply where the undertaker acquires a cellar, vault, arch or other construction forming part of a house, building or factory.

Section 23 Power to override easements and other rights

(1) Any authorised activity which takes place on land within the Order limits (whether the activity is undertaken by the undertaker or by any person deriving title from the undertaker or by any contractors, servants or agents of the undertaker) is authorised by this Order if it is done in accordance with the terms of this Order, notwithstanding that it involves—

(a) an interference with an interest or right to which this article applies; or

(b) a breach of a restriction as to the user of land arising by virtue of a contract.

(2) In this article “ authorised activity ” means—

(a) the erection, construction or maintenance of any part of the authorised development;

(b) the exercise of any power authorised by the Order; or

(c) the use of any land within the Order limits (including the temporary use of land).

(3) The interests and rights to which this article applies include any easement, liberty, privilege, right or advantage annexed to land and adversely affecting other land, including any natural right to support and include restrictions as to the user of land arising by the virtue of a contract.

(4) Where an interest, right or restriction is overridden by paragraph (1), compensation—

(a) is payable under section 7 (measure of compensation in case of severance) or 10 (further provision as to compensation for injurious affection) of the 1965 Act; and

(b) is to be assessed in the same manner and subject to the same rules as in the case of other compensation under those sections where—

(i) the compensation is to be estimated in connection with a purchase under that Act; or

(ii) the injury arises from the execution of works on or use of land acquired under that Act.

(5) Where a person deriving title under the undertaker by whom the land in question was acquired—

(a) is liable to pay compensation by virtue of paragraph (4); and

(b) fails to discharge that liability,

the liability is enforceable against the undertaker.

(6) Nothing in this article is to be construed as authorising any act or omission on the part of any person which is actionable at the suit of any person on any grounds other than such an interference or breach as is mentioned in paragraph (1).

Section 24 Modification of Part 1 of the Compulsory Purchase Act 1965

(1) Part 1 of the 1965 Act (compulsory acquisition under Acquisition of Land Act 1946), as applied to this Order by section 125 (application of compulsory acquisition provisions) of the 2008 Act, is modified as follows.

(2) In section 4A(1) (extension of time limit during challenge) for “section 23 of the Acquisition of Land Act 1981 (application to High Court in respect of compulsory purchase order), the three year period mentioned in section 4” substitute “section 118 (legal challenges relating to applications for orders granting development consent) of the 2008 Act, the five year period mentioned in article 18 (time limit for exercise of authority to acquire land compulsorily) of the Sunnica Energy Farm Order 2024” .

(3) In section 11A (powers of entry: further notice of entry)—

(a) in subsection (1)(a), after “land” insert “under that provision” ; and

(b) in subsection (2), after “land” insert “under that provision” .

(4) In section 22(2) (expiry of time limit for exercise of compulsory purchase power not to affect acquisition of interests omitted from purchase), for “section 4 of this Act” substitute “article 18 (time limit for exercise of authority to acquire land compulsorily) of the Sunnica Energy Farm Order 2024” .

(5) In Schedule 2A (counter-notice requiring purchase of land not in notice to treat)—

(a) for paragraphs 1(2) and 14(2) substitute—

(2) But see article 22(3) (acquisition of subsoil only) of the Sunnica Energy Farm Order 2024, which excludes the acquisition of subsoil only from this Schedule.

(b) after paragraph 29 insert—

INTERPRETATION

(30) In this Schedule, references to entering on and taking possession of land do not include doing so under article 15 (protective works to buildings), article 26 (temporary use of land for constructing the authorised development) or article 27 (temporary use of land for maintaining the authorised development) of the Sunnica Energy Farm Order 2024.

Section 25 Rights under or over streets

(1) The undertaker may enter on, appropriate and use so much of the subsoil of or airspace over any street within the Order limits as may be required for the purposes of the authorised development and may use the subsoil or airspace for those purposes or any other purpose ancillary to the authorised development.

(2) Subject to paragraph (3), the undertaker may exercise any power conferred by paragraph (1) in relation to a street without being required to acquire any part of the street or any easement or right in the street.

(3) Paragraph (2) does not apply in relation to—

(a) any subway or underground building; or

(b) any cellar, vault, arch or other construction in, on or under a street which forms part of a building fronting onto the street.

(4) Subject to paragraph (5), any person who is an owner or occupier of land appropriated under paragraph (1) without the undertaker acquiring any part of that person’s interest in the land, and who suffers loss as a result, is entitled to compensation to be determined, in case of dispute, under Part 1 (determination of questions of disputed compensation) of the 1961 Act.

(5) Compensation is not payable under paragraph (4) to any person who is an undertaker to whom section 85 (sharing cost of necessary measures) of the 1991 Act applies in respect of measures of which the allowable costs are to be borne in accordance with that section.

Section 26 Temporary use of land for constructing the authorised development

(1) The undertaker may, in connection with the construction of the authorised development—

(a) enter on and take temporary possession of—

(i) the land shown coloured green on sheet 21 of the land and Crown land plans and labelled plot 21-04 and described in the book of reference, for the purposes of carrying out works to enable the passage of abnormal indivisible loads and for the passage of such loads;

(ii) any other Order land in respect of which no notice of entry has been served under section 11 (powers of entry) of the 1965 Act and no declaration has been made under section 4 (execution of declaration) of the 1981 Act;

(b) remove any buildings, agricultural plant and apparatus, drainage, fences, debris and vegetation from that land;

(c) construct temporary works, haul roads, security fencing, bridges, structures and buildings on that land;

(d) use the land for the purposes of a temporary working site with access to the working site in connection with the authorised development;

(e) construct any works, on that land as are mentioned in Schedule 1 (authorised development); and

(f) carry out mitigation works required under the requirements in Schedule 2 (requirements).

(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 14 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.

(4) The undertaker must not remain in possession of any land under this article for longer than reasonably necessary and in any event must not, without the agreement of the owners of the land, remain in possession of any land under this article after the end of the period of one year beginning with the date of final commissioning of the part of the authorised development for which temporary possession of the land was taken unless the undertaker has, before 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.

(5) Unless the undertaker has served notice of entry under section 11 of the 1965 Act or made a declaration under section 4 of the 1981 Act or otherwise acquired the land or rights over land subject to temporary possession, the undertaker must before giving up possession of land of which temporary possession has been taken under this article, remove all works and restore the land to the reasonable satisfaction of the owners of the land; but the undertaker is not required to—

(a) replace any building, structure, drain or electric line removed under this article;

(b) remove any drainage works installed by the undertaker under this article;

(c) remove any new road surface or other improvements carried out under this article to any street specified in Schedule 4 (streets subject to street works); or

(d) restore the land on which any works have been carried out under paragraph (1)(f) insofar as the works relate to mitigation works identified in the environmental statement or required pursuant to the requirements in Schedule 2 (requirements).

(6) The undertaker must not exercise the powers conferred by this Order to compulsorily acquire, or compulsorily acquire rights over, the land referred to in paragraph (1)(a)(i) .

(7) The undertaker must pay compensation to the owners and occupiers of land 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 any power conferred by this article.

(8) 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 (determination of questions of disputed compensation) of the 1961 Act.

(9) Nothing in this article affects any liability to pay compensation under section 152 (compensation in case where no right to claim in nuisance) of the 2008 Act 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 (6).

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

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

(12) Nothing in this article prevents the taking of temporary possession more than once in relation to any land that the undertaker takes temporary possession of under this article.

(13) When entering on and taking temporary possession of land for the removal of vegetation authorised by sub-paragraph (1)(b) the undertaker must take steps to avoid a breach of the provisions of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 or any successor acts and regulations.

Section 27 Temporary use of land for maintaining the authorised development

(1) Subject to paragraph (2), at any time during the maintenance period relating to any part of the authorised development, the undertaker may—

(a) enter on and take temporary possession of any land within the Order land if such possession is reasonably required for the purpose of maintaining the authorised development;

(b) enter on any land within the Order land for the purpose of gaining such access as is reasonably required for the purpose of maintaining the authorised development; 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.

(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 development 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 (determination of questions of disputed compensation) of the 1961 Act.

(8) Nothing in this article affects any liability to pay compensation under section 152 (compensation in case where no right to claim in nuisance) of the 2008 Act or under any other enactment in respect of loss or damage arising from the maintenance of the authorised development, 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 (refusal to give possession to acquiring authority) of the 1965 Act applies to the temporary use of land under this article to the same extent as it applies to the compulsory acquisition of land under this Order by virtue of section 125 (application of compulsory acquisition provisions) of the 2008 Act.

(11) In this article “ the maintenance period ” means the period of five years beginning with the date of final commissioning of the part of the authorised development for which temporary possession is required under this article except in relation to landscaping where “ the maintenance period ” means such period as set out in the landscape and ecological management plan which is approved by the relevant planning authority pursuant to requirement 8 beginning with the date on which that part of the landscaping is completed.

Section 28 Statutory undertakers

Subject to the provisions of Schedule 12 (protective provisions) the undertaker may—

(a) acquire compulsorily, or acquire new rights or impose restrictive covenants over, the land belonging to statutory undertakers shown on the land and Crown land plans within the Order land and described in the book of reference; and

(b) extinguish the rights of, remove, relocate the rights of or reposition the apparatus belonging to statutory undertakers over or within the Order land and described in the book of reference.

Section 29 Apparatus and rights of statutory undertakers in closed streets

Where a street is altered or diverted or its use is temporarily prohibited or restricted under article 8 (street works), article 9 (power to alter layout, etc., of streets), article 10 (construction and maintenance of altered streets) or article 11 (temporary closure of public rights of way) any statutory undertaker whose apparatus is under, in, on, along or across the street has the same powers and rights in respect of that apparatus, subject to Schedule 12 (protective provisions), as if this Order had not been made.

Section 30 Recovery of costs of new connections

(1) Where any apparatus of a public utility undertaker or of a public communications provider is removed under article 28 (statutory undertakers) any person who is the owner or occupier of premises to which a supply was given from that apparatus is entitled to recover from the undertaker compensation in respect of expenditure reasonably incurred by that person, in consequence of the removal, for the purpose of effecting a connection between the premises and any other apparatus from which a supply is given.

(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply in the case of the removal of a public sewer but where such a sewer is removed under article 28 (statutory undertakers), any person who is—

(a) the owner or occupier of premises the drains of which communicated with that sewer; or

(b) the owner of a private sewer which communicated with that sewer,

is entitled to recover from the undertaker compensation in respect of expenditure reasonably incurred by that person, in consequence of the removal, for the purpose of making the drain or sewer belonging to that person communicate with any other public sewer or with a private sewage disposal plant.

(3) This article does not have effect in relation to apparatus to which Part 3 (street works in England and Wales) of the 1991 Act applies.

(4) In this article—

“ public communications provider ” has the same meaning as in section 151(1) (interpretation of Chapter 1) of the Communications Act 2003 ; and

“ public utility undertaker ” has the same meaning as in the 1980 Act.

Section 31 Benefit of the Order

Subject to article 32 (consent to transfer the benefit of the Order), the provisions of this Order have effect solely for the benefit of the undertaker.

Section 32 Consent to transfer the benefit of the Order

(1) Subject to the powers of this Order, the undertaker may—

(a) transfer to another person (“ the transferee ”) any or all of the benefit of the provisions of this Order and such related statutory rights as may be agreed between the undertaker and the transferee; and

(b) grant to another person (“ the lessee ”) for a period agreed between the undertaker and the lessee any or all of the benefit of the provisions of this Order and such related statutory rights as may be so agreed.

(2) Where a transfer or grant has been made references in this Order to the undertaker, except in paragraph (8), are to include references to the transferee or lessee.

(3) The consent of the Secretary of State is required for the exercise of the powers of paragraph (1) except where—

(a) the transferee or lessee is the holder of a licence under section 6 (licences authorising supply etc.) of the 1989 Act; or

(b) the time limits for claims for compensation in respect of the acquisition of land or effects upon land under this Order have elapsed and—

(i) no such claims have been made;

(ii) any such claim has been made and has been compromised or withdrawn;

(iii) compensation has been paid in full and final settlement of any such claim;

(iv) payment of compensation into court has taken place in lieu of settlement of any such claim; or

(v) it has been determined by a tribunal or court of competent jurisdiction in respect of any such claim that no compensation is payable.

(4) Where the consent of the Secretary of State is not required, the undertaker must notify the Secretary of State in writing before transferring or granting a benefit referred to in paragraph (1).

(5) The notification referred to in paragraph (4) must state—

(a) the name and contact details the person to whom the benefit of the powers will be transferred or granted;

(b) subject to paragraph (6), the date on which the transfer will take effect;

(c) the powers to be transferred or granted;

(d) pursuant to paragraph (8), the restrictions, liabilities and obligations that will apply to the person exercising the powers transferred or granted; and

(e) where relevant, a plan showing the works or areas to which the transfer or grant relates.

(6) The date specified under paragraph (5)(b) must not be earlier than the expiry of 14 days from the date of the receipt of the notification.

(7) The notification given must be signed by the undertaker and the person to whom the benefit of the powers will be transferred or granted as specified in that notification.

(8) Where the undertaker has transferred any benefit, or for the duration of any period during which the undertaker has granted any benefit—

(a) the benefit transferred or granted (“the transferred benefit”) must include any rights that are conferred, and any obligations that are imposed, by virtue of the provisions to which the benefit relates;

(b) the transferred benefit will reside exclusively with the transferee or, as the case may be, the lessee and the transferred benefit will not be enforceable against the undertaker; and

(c) the exercise by a person of any benefits or rights conferred in accordance with any transfer or grant is subject to the same restrictions, liabilities and obligations as would apply under this Order if those benefits or rights were exercised by the undertaker.

(9) The undertaker must notify both Cambridgeshire County Council and Suffolk County Council in writing 14 days before and 14 days after transferring or granting a benefit referred to in paragraph (1) .

(10) The obligations of the undertaker under the Deed of Obligation are enforceable in accordance with article 45 (enforcement, modification and discharge of the Deed of Obligation) against any person to whom the power to construct or operate numbered works 1 and 2 has been transferred or granted under this article for so long as that person benefits from the power to construct or operate any of numbered works 1 and 2, and such transferee or lessee must be treated for all purposes as the undertaker who entered into the Deed of Obligation with the other parties to it.

(11) The obligations of parties to the Deed of Obligation other than the undertaker are enforceable by any person to whom the power to construct or operate numbered works 1 and 2 has been transferred or granted under this article for so long as that person benefits from the power to construct or operate any of numbered works 1 or 2, and such parties must be treated for all purposes as parties who entered into the Deed of Obligation with the transferee or lessee.

Section 33 Application of landlord and tenant law

(1) This article applies to—

(a) any agreement for leasing to any person the whole or any part of the authorised development or the right to operate the same; and

(b) any agreement entered into by the undertaker with any person for the construction, maintenance, use or operation of the authorised development, or any part of it,

so far as any such agreement relates to the terms on which any land which is the subject of a lease granted by or under that agreement is to be provided for that person’s use.

(2) No enactment or rule of law regulating the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants prejudices the operation of any agreement to which this article applies.

(3) Accordingly, no such enactment or rule of law applies in relation to the rights and obligations of the parties to any lease granted by or under any such agreement so as to—

(a) exclude or in any respect modify any of the rights and obligations of those parties under the terms of the lease, whether with respect to the termination of the tenancy or any other matter;

(b) confer or impose on any such party any right or obligation arising out of or connected with anything done or omitted on or in relation to land which is the subject of the lease, in addition to any such right or obligation provided for by the terms of the lease; or

(c) restrict the enforcement (whether by action for damages or otherwise) by any party to the lease of any obligation of any other party under the lease.

Section 34 Operational land for purposes of the 1990 Act

Development consent granted by this Order is to be treated as specific planning permission for the purposes of section 264(3)(a) (cases in which land is to be treated as operational land) of the 1990 Act.

Section 35 Felling or lopping of trees and removal of hedgerows

(1) Subject to article 36 (trees subject to tree preservation orders), the undertaker may fell or lop any tree or shrub near any part of the authorised development or cut back its roots, if it reasonably believes it to be necessary to do so to prevent the tree or shrub from—

(a) obstructing or interfering with the construction, maintenance or operation of the authorised development or any apparatus used in connection with the authorised development;

(b) constituting a danger to persons using the authorised development; or

(c) obstructing or interfering with the passage of construction vehicles to the extent necessary for the purposes of construction of the authorised development.

(2) In carrying out any activity authorised by paragraph (1) or (4) the undertaker must—

(a) do no unnecessary damage to any tree or shrub;

(b) ensure all works are carried out to a reasonable standard in accordance with the relevant recommendations of appropriate British Standards or other more suitable recognised codes of good practice provided these meet or exceed the appropriate British Standards,;

(c) pay compensation to any person for any loss or damage arising from such activity; and

(d) not breach ...the provisions of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 or any successor acts and regulations.

(3) Any dispute as to a person’s entitlement to compensation under paragraph (2) , or as to the amount of compensation, is to be determined under Part 1 of the 1961 Act.

(4) The undertaker may, for the purposes of the authorised development and subject to paragraph (2), remove any hedgerows within the Order limits that may be required for the purposes of constructing the authorised development.

(5) The undertaker may not pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (4) fell or lop a tree or remove hedgerows within the extent of the publicly maintainable highway without the prior consent of the highway authority.

(6) In this article “ hedgerow ” has the same meaning as in the Hedgerows Regulations 1997 .

Section 36 Trees subject to tree preservation orders

(1) The undertaker may fell or lop any tree described in Schedule 15 (trees subject to tree preservation orders) and shown on the tree preservation order trees location plan or cut back its roots, if it reasonably believes it to be necessary to do so in order to prevent the tree from obstructing or interfering with the construction of the authorised development or any apparatus used in connection with the authorised development.

(2) In carrying out any activity authorised by paragraph (1)—

(a) the undertaker must do no unnecessary damage to any tree and must pay compensation to any person for any loss or damage arising from such activity; and

(b) the duty contained in section 206(1) (replacement of trees) of the 1990 Act does not apply.

(3) The authority given by paragraph (1) constitutes a deemed consent under the relevant tree preservation order.

(4) Any dispute as to a person’s entitlement to compensation under paragraph (2), or as to the amount of compensation, is to be determined under Part 1 of the 1961 Act.

Section 37 Certification of plans and documents, etc.

(1) The undertaker must, as soon as practicable after the making of this Order, submit to the Secretary of State copies of all documents and plans listed in the table at Schedule 10 (documents and plans to be certified) for certification that they are true copies of the documents referred to in this Order.

(2) A plan or document so certified is admissible in any proceedings as evidence of the contents of the document of which it is a copy.

Section 38 Arbitration

(1) Any difference under any provision of this Order, unless otherwise provided for, is to be referred to and settled in arbitration in accordance with the rules set out in Schedule 11 (arbitration rules) of this Order, by a single arbitrator to be agreed upon by the parties, within 14 days of receipt of the notice of arbitration, or if the parties fail to agree within the time period stipulated, to be appointed on application of either party (after giving written notice to the other) by the Secretary of State.

(2) Any matter for which the consent or approval of the Secretary of State is required under any provision of this Order is not subject to arbitration.

Section 39 Protective Provisions

Schedule 12 (protective provisions) has effect.

Section 40 Service of notices

(1) A notice or other document required or authorised to be served for the purposes of this Order may be served—

(a) by post;

(b) by delivering it to the person on whom it is to be served or to whom it is to be given or supplied; or

(c) with the consent of the recipient and subject to paragraphs (6) to (8), by electronic transmission.

(2) Where the person on whom a notice or other document to be served for the purposes of this Order is a body corporate, the notice or document is duly served if it is served on the secretary or clerk of that body.

(3) For the purposes of section 7 (references to service by post) of the Interpretation Act 1978 as it applies for the purposes of this article, the proper address of any person in relation to the service on that person of a notice or document under paragraph (1) is, if that person has given an address for service, that address and otherwise—

(a) in the case of the secretary or clerk of a body corporate, the registered or principal office of that body; and

(b) in any other case, the last known address of that person at that time of service.

(4) Where for the purpose of this Order a notice or other document is required or authorised to be served on a person as having an interest in, or as the occupier of, land and the name or address of that person cannot be ascertained after reasonable enquiry, the notice may be served by—

(a) addressing it to that person by the description of “owner”, or as the case may be “occupier” of the land (describing it); and

(b) either leaving it in the hands of the person who is or appears to be resident or employed on the land or leaving it conspicuously affixed to some building or object on or near the land.

(5) Where a notice or other document required to be served or sent for the purposes of this Order is served or sent by electronic transmission the requirement is to be taken to be fulfilled only where—

(a) the recipient of the notice or other document to be transmitted has given consent to the use of electronic transmission in writing or by electronic transmission;

(b) the notice or document is capable of being accessed by the recipient;

(c) the notice or document is legible in all material respects; and

(d) the notice or document is in a form sufficiently permanent to be used for subsequent reference.

(6) Where the recipient of a notice or other document served or sent by electronic transmission notifies the sender within seven days of receipt that the recipient requires a paper copy of all or any part of that notice or other document the sender must provide such a copy as soon as reasonably practicable.

(7) Any consent to the use of an electronic transmission by a person may be revoked by that person in accordance with paragraph (8).

(8) Where a person is no longer willing to accept the use of electronic transmission for any of the purposes of this Order—

(a) that person must give notice in writing or by electronic transmission revoking any consent given by that person for that purpose; and

(b) such revocation is final and takes effect on a date specified by the person in the notice but that date must not be less than seven days after the date on which the notice is given.

(9) This article does not exclude the employment of any method of service not expressly provided for by it.

Section 41 Procedure in relation to certain approvals etc.

(1) Where an application is made to or request is made of any authority or body named in any of the provisions of this Order for any consent, agreement or approval required or contemplated by any of the provisions of the Order, such consent, agreement or approval to be validly given, must be given in writing and must not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.

(2) Subject to paragraph (4) , Schedule 13 (procedure for discharge) has effect in relation to all consents, agreements or approvals granted, refused or withheld in relation to any provision of this Order.

(3) Schedule 13 (procedure for discharge) does not apply in respect of any consents, agreements or approvals contemplated by the provisions of Schedule 12 (protective provisions) or any dispute under article 15(6) (protective work to buildings) to which paragraph (4) applies.

(4) Subject to any other provision in this Order, any difference or dispute arising under any provision of Schedule 12 (protective provisions) or article 15(6) (protective work to buildings) must, unless otherwise agreed in writing between the undertaker and the party in question, be referred to and settled in arbitration by a single arbitrator to be agreed upon by the parties within 14 days of receipt of the notice of arbitration, or if the parties fail to agree within the time period stipulated, to be appointed on application of either party (after giving written notice to the other) by the Secretary of State.

Section 42 Guarantees in respect of payment of compensation

(1) The undertaker must not exercise the powers conferred by the provisions referred to in paragraph (2) in relation to any land unless it has first put in place either—

(a) a guarantee, the form and amount of which has been approved by the Secretary of State in respect of the liabilities of the undertaker to pay compensation pursuant to the provisions referred to in paragraph (2); or

(b) an alternative form of security, the form and amount of which has been approved by the Secretary of State in respect of the liabilities of the undertaker to pay compensation pursuant to the provisions referred to in paragraph (2).

(2) The provisions are—

(a) article 17 (compulsory acquisition of land);

(b) article 19 (compulsory acquisition of rights);

(c) article 20 (private rights);

(d) article 22 (acquisition of subsoil only);

(e) article 23 (power to override easements and other rights);

(f) article 25 (rights under or over streets);

(g) article 26 (temporary use of land for constructing the authorised development);

(h) article 27 (temporary use of land for maintaining the authorised development); and

(i) article 28 (statutory undertakers).

(3) A guarantee or alternative form of security given in respect of any liability of the undertaker to pay compensation under this Order is to be treated as enforceable against the guarantor or person providing the alternative form of security by any person to whom such compensation is payable and must be in such a form as to be capable of enforcement by such a person.

(4) Nothing in this article requires a guarantee or alternative form of security to be in place for more than 15 years after the date on which the relevant power is exercised.

Section 43 Traffic regulation measures

(1) Subject to the provisions of this article, and the consent of the traffic authority in whose area the road is situated in, the undertaker may, for the purposes of construction, maintenance and decommissioning of the authorised development—

(a) make provision, in respect of those lengths of road specified in column 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 14 (traffic regulation measures) imposing the temporary speed limit mentioned in column 3 of that Part of that Schedule;

(b) make provision, in respect of those lengths of road specified in column 2 of Part 2 of Schedule 14 (traffic regulation measures), as to the direction of travel of vehicular traffic as specified in column 3 of that Part of that Schedule;

(c) make provision, in respect of those lengths of road specified in column 2 of Part 3 of Schedule 14 (traffic regulation measures) temporarily closing that road to the classes of road user specified in column 3 of that Part of that Schedule; and

(d) make provision temporarily suspending in whole or in part any order made, or having effect as if made, under the 1984 Act in so far as it is inconsistent with any prohibition, restriction or other provision made by the undertaker under this paragraph.

(2) Subject to the provisions of this article, and the consent of the traffic authority in whose area the road is situated, the undertaker may for the purposes of construction, maintenance and decommissioning of the authorised development, temporarily place traffic signs and signals in the extents of the road specified in column 2 of Part 4 of Schedule 14 (traffic regulation measures) and, subject to the consent of the traffic authority in whose area the road is situated, the placing of those traffic signs and signals is deemed to have been permitted by the traffic authority for the purposes of section 65 of the 1984 Act and the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016 .

(3) Subject to the provisions of this article and without limitation to the exercise of the powers conferred by paragraph (1) , the undertaker may make temporary provision for the purposes of the construction, maintenance or decommissioning of the authorised development—

(a) as to the speed at which vehicles may proceed along any road;

(b) permitting, prohibiting or restricting the stopping, waiting, loading or unloading of vehicles on any road;

(c) as to prescribed routes for vehicular traffic or the direction or priority of vehicular traffic on any road;

(d) permitting, prohibiting or restricting the use by vehicular traffic or non-vehicular traffic of any road; and

(e) suspending or amending in whole or in part any order made, or having effect as if made, under the 1984 Act.

(4) No speed limit imposed by or under this Order applies to vehicles falling within regulation 3(4) of the Road Traffic Exemptions (Special Forces) (Variation and Amendment) Regulations 2011 when used in accordance with regulation 3(5) of those regulations.

(5) Prior to any application for the consent of the traffic authority under paragraphs (1) and (2) , the undertaker must carry out 21 days consultation with affected highway users by means of site notices and local newspaper advertisement circulating in the area in which- the traffic regulation measures are proposed and must include a consultation report presenting the results of that consultation as part of its application for consent.

(6) Before exercising the power conferred by paragraph (3) the undertaker must—

(a) consult the chief officer of police in whose area the road is situated; and

(b) obtain the written consent of the traffic authority.

(7) The undertaker must not exercise the powers conferred by paragraphs (1) , (2) or (3) unless the undertaker has—

(a) given not less than 4 weeks’ notice in writing to the chief officer of police in whose area the road is situated and to the traffic authority; and

(b) not less than 7 days before the provision is to take effect, published the undertaker’s intention to make the provision in one or more newspapers circulating in the area in which any road to which the provision relates is situated.

(8) Any provision made under the powers conferred by paragraphs (1) or (3) of this article may be suspended, varied or revoked by the undertaker from time to time by subsequent exercise of the powers conferred by paragraph (1) or (3) .

(9) Any provision made by the undertaker under paragraphs (1) or (3) —

(a) must be made by written instrument in such form as the undertaker considers appropriate;

(b) has effect as if duly made by the traffic authority in whose area the road is situated, as a traffic regulation order under the 1984 Act and the instrument by which it is effected may specify savings and exemptions to which the provision is subject; and

(c) is deemed to be a traffic order for the purposes of Schedule 7 (road traffic contraventions subject to civil enforcement) to the 2004 Act.

Section 44 Crown Rights

(1) Nothing in this Order affects prejudicially any estate, right, power, privilege, authority or exemption of the Crown and in particular, nothing in this Order authorises the undertaker to take, use, enter upon or in any manner interfere with any land or rights of any description—

(a) belonging to His Majesty in right of the Crown and forming part of The Crown Estate without the consent in writing of the Crown Estate Commissioners;

(b) belonging to His Majesty in right of the Crown and not forming part of The Crown Estate without the consent in writing of the government department having the management of that land; or

(c) belonging to a government department or held in trust for Her Majesty for the purposes of a government department without the consent in writing of that government department.

(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to the exercise of any right under this Order for the compulsory acquisition of an interest in any Crown land (as defined in the 2008 Act) which is for the time being held otherwise than by or on behalf of the Crown.

(3) A consent under paragraph (1) may be given unconditionally or subject to terms and conditions and is deemed to have been given in writing where it is sent electronically.

Section 45 Enforcement, modification and discharge of the Deed of Obligation

(1) The terms of the Deed of Obligation are enforceable by injunction.

(2) An obligation in the Deed of Obligation may not be modified or discharged except—

(a) by agreement between the undertaker and the beneficiary of the obligation, executed as a deed; or

(b) further to a determination by the Secretary of State under this article.

(3) The undertaker may, at any time after the expiry of the period of five years beginning with the date on which the Deed of Obligation was first entered into, apply to the Secretary of State for the obligation—

(a) to have effect subject to such modifications as may be specified in the application; or

(b) to be discharged, and must notify Suffolk County Council and Cambridgeshire County Council as soon as any such application is made.

(4) An application under paragraph (3) for the modification of an obligation in the Deed of Obligation may not specify a modification imposing an obligation on any other person against whom the Deed of Obligation is enforceable.

(5) Where an application is made to the Secretary of State under paragraph (3) , the Secretary of State must consult Suffolk County Council and Cambridgeshire County Council and, taking into account their responses, may determine—

(a) that the obligation must continue to have effect without modification;

(b) if the obligation no longer serves a useful purpose, that it must be discharged; or

(c) if the obligation continues to serve a useful purpose, but would serve that purpose equally well if it had effect subject to the modifications specified in the application, that it must have effect subject to those modifications,

and must give notice of their determination to the undertaker, Suffolk County Council and Cambridgeshire County Council within three months of the application and provide full reasons for the decision.

(6) Where the Secretary of State determines under this article that an obligation has effect subject to modifications specified in the application, the obligation as modified must be enforceable as if it had been entered into on the date on which notice of the determination was given to the undertaker, Suffolk County Council and Cambridgeshire County Council or such other date as the Secretary of State may determine.

(7) An application to the Secretary of State under paragraph (3) must include the following information—

(a) the name and address of the undertaker;

(b) sufficient information to enable identification of the obligation which the undertaker wishes to have modified or discharged;

(c) the undertaker’s reasons for applying for the modification or discharge of that obligation; and

(d) such other information as the Secretary of State considers necessary to enable them to determine the application.

(8) Where it is proposed that Suffolk County Council or Cambridgeshire County Council is not to be a party to any deed entered into under paragraph (3)(a) , the body not proposed to be a party must be provided with the information set out in paragraphs (7)(a) to (c) , and be given not less than 21 days to make representations.

(9) Section 84 of the Law of Property Act 1925 (power to discharge or modify restrictive covenants affecting land) does not apply to an obligation in the Deed of Obligation.

(10) In this article “ undertaker ” means the undertaker authorised to construct or operate numbered works 1 and 2, being the undertaker bound by the Deed of Obligation.

Section 1

In this Schedule—

“ battery station ” means a station comprising transformers, switchgear, power conversion system (PCS) or inverter, and other ancillary equipment with each component for each battery station either—

located outside, with a concrete foundation slab or concrete piling for each of the inverters and transformers and a levelling layer of thick sand with a concrete perimeter pavement for the switchgear; or

housed together within a container sitting on a concrete foundation slab or concrete piling;

“ East A Site ” means land that forms part of the authorised development located south of Isleham in Cambridgeshire and Suffolk as shown on the works plans;

“ East B Site ” means land that forms part of the authorised development located between Worlington and Freckenham in Suffolk as shown on the works plans;

“ energy storage ” means equipment used for the storage of electrical energy;

“ existing substation ” means the existing substation at Burwell, Weirs Drove, Burwell, Cambridge CB25 0BP, owned and operated by NGET;

“ inverter ” means electrical equipment required to convert direct current power generated to alternating current;

“ mounting structure ” means a frame or rack made of galvanised steel or other material designed to support the solar modules and mounted on piles driven into the ground by one of the following methods: piles rammed into a pre-drilled hole, a pillar attaching to a steel ground screw, pillars fixed to a concrete foundation, or a pillar set in concrete in a pre-made hole in the ground (micro piled);

“ permissive paths ” means new access tracks providing restricted public access within the Order limits along the route shown in Annex A to the outline landscape and ecology management plan;

“ solar module ” means a solar photovoltaic panel designed to convert solar irradiance to electrical energy fitted to mounting structures;

“ solar station ” means a station comprising inverters, transformers and switchgear with each component for each solar station either—

located outside, with a concrete foundation slab for each of the inverters, transformers and switchgear and a levelling layer of thick sand with a concrete perimeter pavement; or

housed together within a container sitting on a concrete foundation slab and a levelling layer of thick sand with a concrete perimeter pavement;

“ substation ” means a compound, containing electrical equipment required to switch, transform, convert electricity and provide reactive power compensation mounted on a reinforced foundation slab or piling;

“ switchgear ” means a combination of electrical disconnect switches, fuses or circuit breakers used to control, protect and isolate electrical equipment;

“ transformer ” means a structure containing an electrical device to transform electricity by increasing or reducing the voltage; and

“ West A Site ” means the land that forms part of authorised development located within the southern fields of the Chippenham Park Estate bordering the A11 and A14 corridor in Cambridgeshire as shown on the works plans.

Section 2

In the Districts of West Suffolk and East Cambridgeshire in the Counties of Cambridgeshire and Suffolk a nationally significant infrastructure project as defined in sections 14 and 15 of the 2008 Act and associated development under section 115(1)(b) of the 2008 Act.

The nationally significant infrastructure project comprises up to one generating station with a gross electrical output capacity of over 50 megawatts comprising all or any of the work numbers in this Schedule or any part of any work number in this Schedule—

Work No. 1 — a ground mounted solar photovoltaic generating station with a gross electrical output capacity of over 50 megawatts including—

(a) Work No. 1A — works on the East A Site comprising—

(i) solar modules;

(ii) solar stations;

(iii) electrical cables including electrical cables connecting to Work No. 3A;

(iv) monitoring and control systems housed within a control room building or container; and

(v) weather stations and direct current (DC) electrical boxes,

(b) Work No. 1B — works on the East B Site comprising—

(i) solar modules;

(ii) solar stations;

(iii) electrical cables including electrical cables connecting to Work No. 3B;

(iv) monitoring and control systems housed within a control room building or container; and

(v) weather stations and DC electrical boxes, and

(c) Work No. 1C — works on the West A Site comprising—

(i) solar modules;

(ii) solar stations;

(iii) electrical cables including electrical cables connecting to Work No. 3C;

(iv) monitoring and control systems housed within a control room building or container; and

(v) weather stations and DC electrical boxes.

and associated development within the meaning of section 115(2) of the 2008 Act including—

Work No. 2 — an energy storage facility of up to 500 megawatts of power at the point of grid connection including—

(a) Work No. 2A — a battery energy storage compound on the East A Site comprising—

(i) battery energy storage cells;

(ii) a structure protecting the battery energy storage cells comprised in Work No. 2A(i) and ancillary equipment, being either one container or multiple containers joined to each other, mounted on a reinforced concrete foundation slab or concrete piling;

(iii) heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) or liquid cooling systems either housed within the containers comprised in Work No. 2A(ii), attached to the side or top of each of the containers, or located separate from but near to each of the containers;

(iv) battery stations;

(v) monitoring and control systems housed within a container with the HVAC or liquid cooling systems in Work No. 2A(iii) or located separately in its own container or control room;

(vi) electrical cables including electrical cables connecting to Work No. 3A;

(vii) fire safety infrastructure comprising fire suppression system; and

(viii) a water storage structure for the purposes of firefighting comprising fire water tanks and fire water containment.

(b) Work No. 2B — a battery energy storage compound on the East B Site comprising—

(i) battery energy storage cells;

(ii) a structure protecting the battery energy storage cells comprised in Work No. 2B(i) and ancillary equipment, being either one container or multiple containers joined to each other, mounted on a reinforced concrete foundation slab or concrete piling;

(iii) heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) or liquid cooling systems either housed within the containers comprised in Work No. 2B(ii), attached to the side or top of each of the containers, or located separate from but near to each of the containers;

(iv) battery stations;

(v) monitoring and control systems housed within a container with the HVAC or liquid cooling systems in Work No. 2B(iii) or located separately in its own container or control room;

(vi) electrical cables including electrical cables connecting to Work No. 3B;

(vii) fire safety infrastructure comprising fire suppression system; and

(viii) a water storage structure for the purposes of firefighting comprising fire water tanks and fire water containment.

(c) Work No. 2C — a battery energy storage compound on the West A Site comprising—

(i) battery energy storage cells;

(ii) a structure protecting the battery energy storage cells comprised in Work No. 2C(i) and ancillary equipment, being either one container or multiple containers joined to each other, mounted on a reinforced concrete foundation slab or concrete piling;

(iii) heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) or liquid cooling systems either housed within the containers comprised in Work No. 2C(ii), attached to the side or top of each of the containers, or located separate from but near to each of the containers;

(iv) battery stations;

(v) monitoring and control systems housed within a container with the HVAC or liquid cooling systems in Work No. 2C(iii) or located separately in its own container or control room;

(vi) electrical cables including electrical cables connecting to Work No. 3C;

(vii) fire safety infrastructure comprising fire suppression system; and

(viii) a water storage structure for the purposes of firefighting comprising fire water tanks and fire water containment.

Work No. 3 — onsite substations including—

(a) Work No. 3A — works on the East A Site comprising—

(i) substation;

(ii) control building or container;

(iii) welfare facilities;

(iv) hardstanding areas; and

(v) electrical cables including electrical cables connecting to Work Nos. 1A, 2A and 4;

(b) Work No. 3B — works on the East B Site comprising—

(i) substation;

(ii) shunt reactor;

(iii) control building or container;

(iv) welfare facilities;

(v) hardstanding areas; and

(vi) electrical cables including electrical cables connecting to Work Nos. 1B, 2B and 4; and

(c) Work No. 3C — works on the West A Site comprising—

(i) substation;

(ii) control building or container;

(iii) welfare facilities;

(iv) hardstanding and parking areas; and

(v) electrical cables including electrical cables connecting to Work Nos. 1C, 2C and 4.

Work No. 4 — works to lay electrical cables and temporary construction laydown areas for the electrical cables including—

(a) electrical cables connecting Work No. 3A to Work No. 3B;

(b) electrical cables connecting Work No. 3B to Work No. 3C;

(c) electrical cables connecting Work No. 3C to the existing substation; and

(d) up to 15 temporary construction laydown areas comprising—

(i) areas of hardstanding, compacted ground or track matting;

(ii) car parking;

(iii) area to store materials and equipment;

(iv) site and welfare offices and workshops;

(v) security infrastructure, including cameras, perimeter fencing and lighting;

(vi) safety infrastructure to warn and manage traffic when crossing roads or other obstacles;

(vii) site drainage and waste management infrastructure (including sewerage); and

(viii) electricity, water, waste water and telecommunications connections.

Work No. 5 — Not Used.

Work No. 6 — works to create, enhance and maintain green infrastructure, including—

(a) Work No. 6A — works on the East A Site comprising—

(i) soft landscaping including planting;

(ii) landscape and biodiversity enhancement measures;

(iii) earth works;

(iv) permissive paths;

(v) hard standing and hard landscaping;

(vi) drainage and irrigation infrastructure and improvements or extensions to existing irrigation systems;

(vii) fencing, gates, boundary treatment and other means of enclosure; and

(viii) improvement, maintenance and use of existing private tracks;

(b) Work No. 6B —works on the East B Site comprising—

(i) soft landscaping including planting;

(ii) landscape and biodiversity enhancement measures;

(iii) earth works;

(iv) permissive paths;

(v) hard standing and hard landscaping;

(vi) drainage and irrigation infrastructure and improvements or extensions to existing irrigation systems;

(vii) fencing, gates, boundary treatment and other means of enclosure; and

(viii) improvement, maintenance and use of existing private tracks; and

(c) Work No. 6C — works on the West A Site comprising—

(i) soft landscaping including planting;

(ii) landscape and biodiversity enhancement measures;

(iii) earth works;

(iv) hard standing and hard landscaping;

(v) drainage and irrigation infrastructure and improvements or extensions to existing irrigation systems;

(vi) fencing, gates, boundary treatment and other means of enclosure; and

(vii) improvement, maintenance and use of existing private tracks.

Work No. 7 — temporary construction laydown areas including—

(a) Work No. 7A — a temporary construction laydown area on the East Site A comprising—

(i) areas of hardstanding;

(ii) car parking;

(iii) site and welfare offices and workshops;

(iv) security infrastructure, including cameras, perimeter fencing and lighting;

(v) site drainage and waste management infrastructure (including sewerage); and

(vi) electricity, water, waste water and telecommunications connections;

(b) Work No. 7B — up to five temporary construction laydown areas on the East Site B comprising—

(i) areas of hardstanding;

(ii) car parking;

(iii) site and welfare offices and workshops;

(iv) security infrastructure, including cameras, perimeter fencing and lighting;

(v) site drainage and waste management infrastructure (including sewerage); and

(vi) electricity, water, waste water and telecommunications connections; and

(c) Work No. 7C — up to three temporary construction laydown areas on the West Site A comprising—

(i) areas of hardstanding;

(ii) car parking;

(iii) security infrastructure, including cameras, perimeter fencing and lighting;

(iv) site drainage and waste management infrastructure (including sewerage); and

(v) electricity, water, waste water and telecommunications connections.

Work No. 8 — warehouse buildings and permanent compounds comprising—

(a) Work No. 8A — warehouse building and a permanent compound on the East Site A comprising—

(i) a warehouse building for the storage of spare parts and office and welfare facilities;

(ii) a canteen either located within the warehouse building within Work No. 8A(i) or in a separate container or building;

(iii) waste skips;

(iv) parking areas; and

(v) a permanent compound area; and

(b) Work No. 8B — warehouse building and a permanent compound area on the East Site B comprising—

(i) a warehouse building for the storage of spare parts and office and welfare facilities;

(ii) a canteen either located within the warehouse building within Work No. 8B(i) or in a separate container or building;

(iii) waste skips;

(iv) parking areas; and

(v) a permanent compound area.

Work No. 9— works to existing streets to facilitate access to Work Nos. 1 to 8.

Work No. 10 — works to create and maintain stone curlew reserve.

In connection with and in addition to Work Nos. 1 to 10 further associated development comprising such other works or operations as may be necessary or expedient for the purposes of or in connection with the authorised development, and which are within the Order limits and fall within the scope of the work assessed by the environmental statement, including—

(a) works within highways, including—

(i) alteration of the layout of any street permanently or temporarily, including increasing or reducing the width of the carriageway of any street by increasing or reducing the width of any kerb, footway, cycleway, or verge within the street including removal of any vegetation; and altering the level or increasing the width of any such kerb, footway, cycleway or verge within the street including removal of any vegetation; and works for the strengthening, improvement, repair, maintenance or reconstruction of any street;

(ii) street works, including breaking up or opening a street, or any sewer, drain or tunnel under it, and tunnelling or boring under a street;

(iii) relocation, removal or provision of new road traffic signs, signals, street lighting, road restraints and carriageway lane markings;

(iv) works to place, alter, remove or maintain street furniture or apparatus (including statutory undertakers’ apparatus) in, under or above a street, including mains, sewers, drains, pipes, cables, cofferdams, lights, fencing and other boundary treatments; and

(v) works to facilitate traffic management and to deliver information relating to the authorised development; and

(b) other works and development including—

(i) works for the provision of fencing and security measures such as CCTV, columns, lighting and communication boxes;

(ii) laying down of internal access tracks, ramps, means of access, footpaths, roads and cycle routes;

(iii) bunds, embankments, trenching and swales;

(iv) boundary treatments, including means of enclosure;

(v) glint and glare boarding;

(vi) laying out and surfacing of permissive paths, including the laying and construction of drainage infrastructure, signage and information boards;

(vii) foundations for structures or buildings being piles driven into the ground, piles rammed into a pre-drilled hole, a pillar attaching to a steel ground screw, pillars fixed to a concrete foundation, or a pillar set in concrete in a pre-made hole in the ground (micro piled);

(viii) works to the existing irrigation system and works to alter the position and extent of such irrigation system;

(ix) electrical, gas, water, foul water drainage and telecommunications infrastructure connections and works to, and works to alter the position of, such services and utilities connections;

(x) works to alter the course of, or otherwise interfere with, non-navigable rivers, streams or watercourses;

(xi) surface water drainage systems, storm water attenuation systems including storage basins, oil water separators, including channelling and culverting and works to existing drainage systems;

(xii) site establishments and preparation works including site clearance (including vegetation removal, demolition of existing buildings and structures); earthworks (including soil stripping and storage and site levelling) and excavations; the alteration of the position of services and utilities; and works for the protection of buildings and land;

(xiii) tunnelling, boring and drilling works; and

(xiv) landscaping and mitigation works.

Section 1 Interpretation

In this Schedule—

“ both relevant county authorities ” means Cambridgeshire County Council and Suffolk County Council each being the relevant county authority for part of the authorised development;

“ both relevant planning authorities ” means East Cambridgeshire District Council and West Suffolk Council each being the relevant planning authority for part of the authorised development; and

“ the offsetting habitat provision for stone curlews specification ” means the specification of that name in annex F to the outline landscape and ecology management plan.

Section 2 Commencement of the authorised development

The authorised development must not be commenced after the expiration of five years from the date this Order comes into force.

Section 3 Phasing of the authorised development and date of final commissioning

(1) No part of the authorised development may commence until a written scheme setting out the phase or phases of construction of the authorised development has been submitted to and approved by both relevant planning authorities.

(2) The scheme submitted pursuant to sub-paragraph (1) must include a timetable for the construction of the phase or phases of the authorised development.

(3) The scheme submitted and approved pursuant to sub-paragraph (1) must be implemented as approved and—

(a) Work No. 2A may not be brought into commercial use without Work No. 1A also being brought into commercial use;

(b) Work No. 2B may not be brought into commercial use without Work No. 1B also being brought into commercial use; and

(c) Work No. 2C may not be brought into commercial use without Work No. 1C also being brought into commercial use.

(4) In respect of the phase or phases, the undertaker must give notice to both relevant planning authorities within seven days of the date of final commissioning that final commissioning of the phase or, where there is more than one phase, each phase has taken place.