The North Falls Offshore Wind Farm Order 2026

• Citation: S.I. 2026/567
• Sections: 467

Section 1 Citation and commencement

This Order may be cited as the North Falls Offshore Wind Farm Order 2026 and comes into force on 5th June 2026.

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 2000 Act ” means the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 ;

“ the 2003 Act ” means the Communications Act 2003 ;

“ the 2004 Act ” means the Energy Act 2004 ;

“ the 2008 Act ” means the Planning Act 2008 ;

“ the 2009 Act ” means the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 ;

“ the 2016 Regulations ” means the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 ;

“ access to works plan ” means the plan or plans certified as the access to works plan or plans by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this Order under article 40 (certification of plans and documents, etc.);

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

“ ancillary works ” means the ancillary works described in Part 2 of Schedule 1 (ancillary works) and any other works authorised by this Order and which are not development within the meaning of section 32 of the 2008 Act;

“ apparatus ” has the same meaning as in Part 3 (street works in England and Wales) of the 1991 Act;

“ archaeological mitigation strategy ” means the document certified as the archaeological mitigation strategy by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this Order under article 40 (certification of plans and documents, etc.);

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

“ bank holiday ” means a day that is a bank holiday in England and Wales under section 1 of the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971;

“ biodiversity net gain strategy ” means the document certified as the biodiversity net gain strategy by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this Order under article 40 (certification of plans and documents, etc.);

“ the book of reference ” means the document certified by the Secretary of State as the “ book of reference ” for the purposes of this Order under article 40 (certification of plans and documents, etc.);

“ build option 1 ” means the scenario in which the undertaker only constructs those works required for the North Falls Offshore Wind Farm grid connection and does not construct Work Nos. 6B or 12B;

“ build option 2 ” means build option 2A or build option 2B”;

“ build option 2A ” means the scenario in which the authorised development will deliver works to support grid connection co-ordination, including the laying of onshore cable ducts (Work Nos. 6B and/or 12B), for transfer to and/or use by Five Estuaries or transmission licence holder under the 1989 Act, as part of co-ordination for grid connection works for offshore generation;

“ build option 2B ” means the scenario in which the undertaker pulls cables through onshore cable ducts constructed by Five Estuaries or transmission licence holder under the 1989 Act, as part of co-ordination for grid connection works for offshore generation;

“ build option 3 ” means the scenario in which the undertaker constructs only Work No.1 and Work No. 2;

“ buoy ” means any floating device used for navigational purposes or measurement purposes, including LIDAR, wave buoys and guard buoys;

“ business day ” means Monday to Friday excluding bank holidays and other public holidays;

“ cable circuit ” means a number of electrical conductors necessary to transmit electricity between two points, comprising one or more conductors which may be bundled as one cable or take the form of separate cables, and in either case the circuit may include one or more auxiliary cables for the purpose of control, monitoring, protection or general communications;

“ cable crossings ” means the crossing of existing cables, pipelines or other existing infrastructure by the cables authorised by this Order together with cable protection;

“ cable ducts ” means conduits for the installation of cables;

“ cable protection ” means physical measures for the protection of cables including but not limited to concrete mattresses, split pipe system, and/or rock placement (including material used for cable crossings);

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

“ Chart Datum ” means the level below which the tide will not normally fall at a given location, usually the lowest astronomical tide;

“ commence ” means—

in relation to works seaward of MHWS, the first carrying out of any licenced marine activities authorised by the deemed marine licences, save for operations consisting of preconstruction surveys and monitoring approved under the deemed marine licences; or

in respect of any other works comprised in the authorised development, the first carrying out of any material operation (as defined in section 155 of the 2008 Act) forming part of the authorised development other than onshore site preparation works,

and the words “ commencement ” and “ commenced ” must be construed accordingly;

“ commissioning ” means the process of assuring that all systems and components of the authorised development are tested to verify that they function and are operable in accordance with the specifications and operational requirements of the undertaker;

“ crown land plan ” means the document certified as the crown land plan by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this Order under article 40 (certification of plans and documents, etc.);

“ deemed marine licences ” means the marine licences set out in Schedules 8 (deemed marine licence under the 2009 Act – generation assets), 9 (deemed marine licence under the 2009 Act – transmission assets), and 10 (deemed marine licence under the 2009 Act – transmission assets – offshore converter station);

“ deep water route cable installation area (future dredging depths) Plan ” means the document certified as such by the Secretary of State under article 40 (certification of plans, etc.) for the purposes of this Order;

“ design vision ” means the document certified as the design vision by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this Order under article 40 (certification of plans and documents, etc.);

“ discharging authority ” for the purposes of Part 3 (requirements) and Part 4 (procedure for discharge of requirements) of Schedule 1 means Essex County Council;

“ draft marine mammal mitigation protocol ” means the document certified as the draft marine mammal mitigation protocol by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this Order under article 40 (certification of plans and documents, etc.);

“ environmental statement ” means the documents listed in Part 1 and Part 2 of Schedule 12 (documents forming the environmental statement) and certified as the environmental statement by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this Order under article 40 (certification of plans and documents, etc.);

“ Five Estuaries ” means the nationally significant infrastructure project known as Five Estuaries Offshore Wind Farm, being an offshore electricity generating station approximately 37 kilometres (km) from the coast of Suffolk, and being the authorised development consented by the Five Estuaries Offshore Wind Farm Order 2025 ;

“ foundation ” means any of monopile, mono suction bucket, multi-leg pin pile jacket or multi-leg suction bucket jacket foundations;

“ Galloper recommended route ” means the recommended shipping routing measure included as part of the Sunk area traffic routeing scheme adopted by resolution of the International Maritime Organization during the 82nd session of the Maritime Safety Committee and recorded in circular COLREG.2/ Circ.58 Annex II., to enable ferry traffic sailing to and from the Port of Oostende an option to enter and leave the SUNK Outer Precautionary Area, and connecting the following geographical positions—

(1) Latitude

(2) Longitude

“ groundwater risk assessment and monitoring plan – private water supplies and licenced abstractions ” means the document certified as such by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this Order under article 40 (certification of plans and documents, etc.);

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

“ Historic England ” means the Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for England;

“ HVAC ” means high voltage alternating current;

“ HVDC ” means high voltage direct current;

“ inter-array cables ” means the network of offshore subsea cables connecting the wind turbine generators in Work No. 1 with each other and with the offshore substation platform(s) and/or offshore converter platform forming part of Work No. 2;

“ jacket foundation ” means a lattice type structure constructed of steel and additional equipment such as, J-tubes, corrosion protection systems and access platforms attached to the seabed at 3 or more points with pin piles or suction buckets;

“ joint bay ” means an excavation located at regular intervals along the cable route consisting of a concrete flat base slab constructed beneath the ground to facilitate the jointing together of the cables;

“ land plans ” means the plan or plans certified as the land plan or land plans by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this Order under article 40 (certification of plans and documents, etc.);

“ link box ” means the underground metal box placed within a plastic or concrete pit where the metal sheaths between adjacent export cable sections are connected and earthed and installed within a ground level manhole or inspection chamber to allow access to the link box for regular maintenance or fault-finding purposes;

“ maintain ” includes inspect, upkeep, repair, adjust, and alter and further includes remove, reconstruct and replace any component of any offshore work including any cable, and the onshore works described in Part 1 of Schedule 1 (authorised development), not including removal, reconstruction or replacement of foundations and buildings associated with the onshore substation, to the extent assessed in the environmental statement and any derivative of maintain must be construed accordingly;

“ Marine Management Organisation ” or “ MMO ” means the Marine Management Organisation, Marine Licensing Team, Tyneside House, Skinnerburn Road, Newcastle Business Park, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 7AR who is the body created under the 2009 Act and who is responsible for the monitoring and enforcement of the deemed marine licences;

“ MCA ” means the Maritime and Coastguard Agency;

“ mean high water springs ” or “ MHWS ” means the average throughout the year, of two successive high waters, during a 24- hour period in each month when the range of the tide is at its greatest (Spring tides) “mean low water springs” or “ MLWS ” means the lowest level which spring tides reach on average over a period of time;

“ monopile foundation ” means a steel pile, driven and/or drilled into the seabed and associated equipment including J-tubes, corrosion protection systems and access platforms and equipment;

“ monopile suction bucket foundation ” means a steel cylindrical structure which partially or fully penetrates the seabed and remains in place using its own weight and hydrostatic pressure differential, and may include additional equipment such as J-tubes, corrosion protection systems and access platforms;

“ MSC ” means the International Maritime Organization’s Maritime Safety Committee, or any successor body or committee of the International Maritime Organization performing an equivalent function;

“ National Grid ” means National Grid Electricity Transmission Plc, Company Number (02366977, and having its registered office at 1 - 3 Strand, London, WC2N 5EH;

“ New National Grid Substation ” means the substation to be constructed by National Grid within plots 16-006, 16-007 and 16-008 of the land plans, as part of the NTT project, and into which the authorised development will connect;

“ offshore converter platform ” means a structure above MHWS and attached to the seabed by means of a foundation, with equipment to convert three-phase HVAC power generated by the wind turbine generations into HVDC power;

“ offshore in-principle monitoring plan ” means the plan or plans certified by the Secretary of State as the offshore in-principle monitoring plan for the purposes of this Order under article 40 (certification of plans and documents, etc.);

“ offshore order limits and boundary co-ordinates plan ” means the plan or plans certified by the Secretary of State as the offshore order limits and boundary co-ordinates plan for the purposes of this Order under article 40 (certification of plans and documents, etc.);

“ offshore platform ” means the offshore substation platform(s) and/or the offshore converter platform;

“ offshore substation platform ” means a structure above MHWS and attached to the seabed by means of a foundation, with one or more decks, whether open or fully clad, accommodating electrical power transformers, switchgear, instrumentation, protection and control systems, and other associated equipment and facilities to enable the transmission of electronic communications and for electricity to be collected at, and exported from, the platform;

“ offshore works ” means Work Nos. 1 to 4B and any related further associated development in connection with those works;

“ onshore outline written scheme of investigation ” means the document certified as such by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this Order under article 40 (certification of plans and documents, etc.);

“ onshore site preparation works ” means operations consisting of site clearance including vegetation clearance, pre-planting of landscaping works, ecological mitigation works, archaeological investigations, intrusive and other environmental surveys, investigations for the purpose of assessing ground conditions, remedial work in respect of any contamination or other adverse ground conditions, preparatory works to existing infrastructure and diversion and laying of services, erection of any temporary means of enclosure, site security works, creation of temporary hardstanding creation of temporary means of access and the temporary display of site notices or advertisements;

“ onshore works ” means Work Nos. 4B to 14 and any related further associated development in connection with those works;

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

“ the Order limits ” means the limits shown on the works plans within which the authorised development may be carried out;

“ outline cable specification and installation plan ” means the document certified as the outline cable specification and installation plan by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this Order under article 40 (certification of plans and documents, etc.);

“ outline code of construction practice ” means the document certified as the outline code of construction practice by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this Order under article 40 (certification of plans and documents, etc.);

“ outline construction traffic management plan ” means the document certified as the outline construction traffic management plan by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this Order under article 40 (certification of plans and documents, etc.);

“ outline fisheries liaison and co-existence plan ” means the document certified as the outline fisheries liaison and co-existence plan by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this Order under article 40 (certification of plans and documents, etc.);

“ outline guillemot and razorbill compensation implementation and monitoring plan” or “outline guillemot and razorbill CIMP ” means the document certified as the outline guillemot and razorbill compensation implementation and monitoring plan by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this Order under article 40 (certification of plans and documents, etc.);

“ outline horizontal directional drill method statement and contingency plan ” means the document certified as the outline horizontal directional drill method statement and contingency plan by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this Order under article 40 (certification of plans and documents, etc.);

“ outline kittiwake compensation implementation and monitoring plan” or “outline kittiwake CIMP ” means the document certified as the outline kittiwake compensation implementation and monitoring plan by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this Order under article 40 (certification of plans and documents, etc.);

“ outline landscape and ecological management strategy ” means the document certified as the outline landscape and ecological management strategy by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this Order under article 40 (certification of plans and documents, etc.);

“ outline LBBG compensation implementation and monitoring plan” or “outline LBBG CIMP ” means the document certified as the outline LBBG compensation implementation and monitoring plan by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this Order under article 40 (certification of plans and documents, etc.);

“ outline navigation and installation plan ” means the document certified by the Secretary of State as the outline navigation and installation plan for the purposes of this Order under article 40 (certification of plans and documents, etc.);

“ outline offshore operations and maintenance plan ” means the document certified as the outline offshore operations and maintenance plan by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this Order under article 40 (certification of plans and documents, etc.);

“ outline offshore written scheme of investigation ” means the document certified as the outline offshore written scheme of investigation by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this Order under article 40 (certification of plans and documents, etc.);

“ outline onshore written scheme of investigation ” means the document certified as the outline onshore written scheme of investigation by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this Order under article 40 (certification of plans and documents, etc.);

“ outline operational drainage strategy ” means the document certified as the outline operational drainage strategy by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this Order under article 40 (certification of plans and documents, etc.);

“ outline project environmental management plan ” means the document certified as the outline project environmental management plan by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this Order under article 40 (certification of plans and documents, etc.);

“ outline public rights of way management plan ” means the document certified as the outline public rights of way management plan by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this Order under article 40 (certification of plans and documents, etc.);

“ outline red throated diver compensation and implementation plan ” means the document certified as the outline red throated diver compensation and implementation plan by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this Order under article 40 (certification of plans and documents etc.);

“ outline sediment disposal management plan ” means the document certified as the outline sediment disposal management plan by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this Order under article 40 (certification of plans and documents, etc.);

“ outline site integrity plan for the southern north sea special area of conservation ” means the document certified as the outline site integrity plan for the southern north sea special area of conservation by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this Order under article 40 (certification of plans and documents, etc.);

“ outline skills and employment plan ” means the document certified as the outline skills and employment plan by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this Order under article 40 (certification of plans and documents, etc.);

“ outline vessel traffic monitoring plan ” means the document certified as the outline vessel traffic monitoring plan by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this Order under article 40 (certification of plans and documents, etc);

“ pin piles ” means steel cylindrical piles driven and/or drilled into the seabed to secure jacket foundations;

“ platform interconnector cable ” means a cable circuit between the offshore platforms;

“ public holiday ” means Christmas Day, Good Friday or a day which under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 is a bank holiday in England;

“ public rights of way plan ” means the plan or plans certified as the public rights of way plan by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this Order under article 40 (certification of plans and documents, etc.);

“ relevant planning authority ” means Tendring District Council, or any successor to it as the planning authority for the land in question;

“ requirements ” means, or a reference to a numbered requirement is a reference to, those matters set out in Part 3 of Schedule 1 (requirements) to this Order;

“ scour protection ” means measures to prevent loss of seabed sediment around any structure placed in or on the seabed by use of protective aprons, mattresses, or rock and gravel placement;

“ SNCB ” means statutory nature conservation body, being the appropriate nature conservation body as defined in Regulation 5 of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 or its equivalent in the Conservation of Offshore Marine Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 ;

“ special category land ” means the land shown on the special category land plan and described in the book of reference;

“ special category land plan ” means the plan certified as such by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this Order under article 40 (certification of plans and documents, etc.);

“ statutory undertaker ” means any person falling within section 127(8) of the 2008 Act and a public communications provider as defined in section 151 of the 2003 Act;

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

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

“ streets plan ” means the plan or plans certified as the streets plan or plans by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this Order under article 40 (certification of plans and documents, etc.);

“ suction bucket ” means a steel cylindrical structure attached to the legs of a jacket foundation which partially mor fully penetrates the seabed and remains in place using its own weight and hydrostatic pressure differential;

“ temporary traffic regulation order plan ” means the plan or plans certified as the temporary traffic regulation order plan or plans by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this Order under article 40 (certification of plans and documents, etc.);

“ transition joint bay ” means the underground concrete bays in Work No. 4D where the offshore export cable circuits are jointed to the onshore export cable circuits;

“ transition piece ” means the metal structure attached to the top of the foundation where the base of the wind turbine generator is connected and may include additional equipment such as J-tubes, corrosion protection systems, boat access systems, access platforms, craneage, electrical transmission equipment and associated equipment;

“ tree preservation order and hedgerow plan ” means the plan or plans certified as the tree preservation order and hedgerow plan by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this Order under article 40 (certification of plans and documents, etc.);

“ trenchless installation techniques ” means the installation of electrical cable circuits by means of boring techniques for installing cable ducts including horizontal directional drilling, pipe jacking/horizontal auger boring and micro-boring;

“ Trinity House ” means the Corporation of Trinity House of Deptford Strond;

“ undertaker ” means, subject to article 5 (benefit of the Order), North Falls Offshore Wind Farm Limited (company number 12435947);

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

“ vessel ” means every description of vessel, however propelled or moved, and includes a non-displacement craft, a personal watercraft, a seaplane on the surface of the water, a hydrofoil vessel, a hovercraft or any other amphibious vehicle and any other thing constructed or adapted for movement through, in, on or over water and which is at the time in, on or over water;

“ watercourse ” includes all rivers, streams, ditches, drains, cuts, culverts, dykes, sluices, basins, sewers and passages through which water flows except a public sewer;

“ wind turbine generator ” means a structure comprising a tower, rotor with three blades connected at the hub, nacelle and ancillary electrical and other equipment which may include J-tube(s), transition piece, access and rest platforms, access ladders, boat access systems, corrosion protection systems, fenders and maintenance equipment, helicopter landing facilities and other associated equipment, fixed to a foundation or transition piece;

“ working day ” means a day which is not a weekend, bank holiday or public holiday in England;

“ works plans ” means the works plans (offshore) and the works plans (onshore);

“ works plans (offshore) ” means the plan or plans certified as the works plans (offshore) by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this Order under article 40 (certification of plans and documents, etc.); and

“ works plans (onshore) ” means the plan or plans certified as the works plans (onshore) by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this Order under article 40 (certification of plans and documents, etc.).

(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 the land which interfere with the interests or rights of another and are for the benefit of the land which is acquired under this Order or which is an interest otherwise comprised in the Order land.

(3) All distances, directions, capacities, volumes and lengths referred to in this Order are approximate save in respect of the parameters referred to in—

(a) requirements 2 , 6 , and 17 in Part 3 of Schedule 1 (requirements);

(b) conditions 10 and 11 in Part 2 of Schedule 8 (deemed marine licence under the 2009 Act – generation assets);

(c) conditions 10 to 12 in Part 2 of Schedule 9 (deemed marine licence under the 2009 Act –transmission assets); and

(d) conditions 10 and 11 in Part 2 of Schedule 10 (deemed marine licence under the 2009 Act – transmission assets (offshore converter platform)).

(4) Any reference in this Order to a work identified by the number of the work is to be construed as a reference to the work of that number authorised by this Order.

(5) The expression “ includes ” is to be construed without limitation unless the contrary intention appears.

(6) A reference to any statute, order, regulation or similar instrument is construed as a reference to a statute, order, regulation or instrument as amended by any subsequent statute, order, regulation or instrument or as contained in any subsequent re-enactment.

Section 3 Development consent etc. granted by this Order

(1) Subject to the provisions of this Order and to the requirements, the undertaker is granted—

(a) development consent for the authorised development; and

(b) consent for the ancillary works,

to be carried out within the Order limits.

(2) Work Nos. 1 to 4B must be constructed within the Order limits seaward of MHWS and Work Nos. 4C to 14 must be constructed within the Order limits landward of MHWS.

Section 4 Power to maintain the authorised development

(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the undertaker may at any time maintain the authorised development, except to the extent that this Order or an agreement made under this Order provides otherwise.

(2) The power to maintain conferred under paragraph (1) does not relieve the undertaker of any requirement to obtain any further licence under Part 4 of the 2009 Act (marine licensing) for offshore works not covered by the deemed marine licences.

Section 5 Benefit of the Order

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

(2) Subject to paragraph (1) the undertaker may with the written consent of the Secretary of State—

(a) transfer to another person (“ the transferee ”) any or all of the benefit of the provisions of this Order (excluding the deemed marine licences) 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 (excluding the deemed marine licences) and such related statutory rights as may be so agreed.

except where paragraph (7) applies, in which case the consent of the Secretary of State is not required.

(3) Subject to paragraph (1) the undertaker may with the written consent of the Secretary of State—

(a) transfer to the transferee the whole of any of the deemed marine licences and such related statutory rights as may be agreed between the undertaker and the transferee; or

(b) transfer to the lessee for the duration of the period mentioned in paragraph (2)(b) , the whole of any of the deemed marine licences and such related statutory rights as may be so agreed, except where paragraph (7) applies, in which case the consent of the Secretary of State is not required.

(4) Where an agreement has been made in accordance with paragraph (2) or (3) , references in this Order to the undertaker, except in paragraphs (6) , (8) and (10), include references to the transferee or the lessee.

(5) The Secretary of State must consult the MMO before giving consent to the transfer or grant to another person of the benefit of the provisions of the deemed marine licences.

(6) Where the undertaker has transferred any benefit, or for the duration of any period during which the undertaker has granted any benefit, under paragraph (2) or (3) —

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

(b) the transferred benefit resides exclusively with the transferee or, as the case may be, the lessee and the transferred benefit is not enforceable against the undertaker save in the case of a deemed marine licence transferred or granted in respect of any breach of an obligation by the undertaker which occurs prior to the transfer or grant or which occurs as a result of any activity carried out by the undertaker on behalf of the transferee; and

(c) the exercise by a person of any benefits or rights conferred in accordance with any transfer or grant under paragraphs (2) or (3) 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.

(7) The consent of the Secretary of State is required for the exercise of powers under paragraphs (2) or (3) except where—

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

(b) in relation to the transfer or lease of any or all of Work No. 9 or any other works within a highway, the transferee or lessee is a highway authority responsible for the relevant highway; or

(c) the time limits for claims for compensation in respect of the acquisition of land or effects upon land under this Order have lapsed 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.

(8) Prior to any transfer or grant under this article taking effect, the undertaker must give notice in writing to the Secretary of State, and if such transfer or grant relates to the exercise of powers in their area, to the MMO and the relevant planning authority.

(9) The notice required under paragraph (8) must—

(a) state—

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

(ii) subject to paragraph (10), the date on which the transfer will take effect;

(iii) the provisions to be transferred or granted;

(iv) the restrictions, liabilities and obligations that, in accordance with paragraph (7)(c), will apply to the person exercising the powers transferred or granted; and

(v) where paragraph (8) does not apply, confirmation of the availability and adequacy of funds for compensation associated with the compulsory acquisition of the Order land; and

(b) be accompanied by—

(i) where relevant, a plan showing the works or areas to which the transfer or grant relates; and

(ii) a copy of the document effecting the transfer or grant signed by the undertaker and the person to whom the benefit of the powers will be transferred or granted.

(10) The notice given under paragraph (9) 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 notice and the date specified under paragraph 9(a)(ii) must not be earlier than the expiry of fourteen days from the date of receipt by the Secretary of State of the notice.

(11) Section 72(7) and (8) of the 2009 Act (variation, suspension, revocation and transfer) do not apply to a transfer or grant of the whole of the benefit of the provisions of the deemed marine licences to another person by the undertaker pursuant to an agreement under paragraph (3) save that the MMO may amend any deemed marine licence granted under Schedule 8, Schedule 9 or Schedule 10 of the Order to correct the name of the undertaker to the name of the transferee or lessee under this article 5 (benefit of the Order).

Section 6 Application and modification of legislative provisions

The following provisions are modified to the extent specified, or do not apply, in relation to the construction or works carried out for the purpose of, or in connection with, the construction or maintenance of the authorised development—

(a) regulation 6 of the Hedgerows Regulations 1997 is modified so as to read for the purposes of this Order only as if there were inserted after paragraph (1)(j) the following—

or

(k) for carrying out development which has been authorised by an order granting development consent pursuant to the Planning Act 2008.

(b) the provisions of the Neighbourhood Planning Act 2017 insofar as they relate to the temporary possession of land under article 30 (temporary use of land for carrying out the authorised development) and article 31 (temporary use of land for maintaining the authorised development) of this Order;

(c) regulation 12 (requirement for an environmental permit) of the 2016 Regulations in respect of a flood risk activity only;

(d) the provisions of any byelaws made under, or having effect as if made under, paragraphs 5, 6 or 6A of Schedule 25 of the Water Resources Act 1991 that require consent or approval for carrying out the works;

(e) section 23 (prohibition on obstructions etc. in watercourses)of the Land Drainage Act 1991 (prohibition of obstructions etc. in watercourses);

(f) sections 6 (grass verges etc) and 30 (unauthorised structures on seashore) of the Essex Act 1987 ;

(g) Holland Haven Country Park local nature reserve byelaws made by Tendring District Council on 5 July 1995 under sections 20, 21(4) and 106 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 in accordance with section 236 of the Local Government Act 1972 ; and

(h) the provisions of any byelaws made under section 66 of the Land Drainage Act 1991 (power to make byelaws) that require consent or approval for the carrying out of works.

Section 7 Defence to proceedings in respect of statutory nuisance

(1) Where proceedings are brought under section 82(1) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (summary proceedings by persons aggrieved by statutory nuisances) in relation to a nuisance falling within paragraphs (d), (fb), (g) and (ga) of section 79(1) (statutory nuisances and inspections therefor) of that Act no order is to be made, and no fine is to be imposed, under section 82(1) of that Act if—

(a) the defendant shows that the nuisance—

(i) relates to premises used by the undertaker for the purposes of or in connection with the construction, maintenance or decommissioning of the authorised development and that the nuisance is attributable to the carrying out of the authorised development in accordance with a notice served under section 60 (control of noise on construction sites), or consent given under section 61 (prior consent for work on construction sites) of the Control of Pollution Act 1947; or

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

(b) the defendant shows that the nuisance—

(i) relates to premised used by the undertaker for the purposes of or in connection with the use of the authorised development and that the nuisance is attributable to the use of the authorised development which is being used in compliance with requirement 17 (control of noise during operational stage); or

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

(2) Section 61(9) of the Control of Pollution Act 1974 does not apply where the consent relates to the use of premises by the undertaker for the purposes of or in connection with the construction, maintenance or decommissioning 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 2 (streets and public rights of way subject to street works) as is within the Order limits and may—

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

(b) tunnel or bore under the street;

(c) remove or use all earth and materials in or under the street;

(d) place and keep apparatus in or under the street;

(e) maintain apparatus in or under the street or change its position; 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.

Section 9 Application of the 1991 Act

(1) The provisions of the 1991 Act mentioned in paragraph (2) that apply in relation to the carrying out of street works under that Act and any regulations made or code of practice issued or approved under those provisions apply (with all necessary modifications) in relation to—

(a) the carrying out of works under article 8 (street works); and

(b) the temporary closure, temporary alteration or temporary diversion of a street by the undertaker under article 11 (temporary closure of public rights of way) and article 12 (temporary restriction of use of streets),

whether or not the carrying out of the works or the closure, alteration or diversion constitutes street works within the meaning of the Act.

(2) The provisions of the 1991 Act are—

(a) subject to paragraph (3) , section 55 (notice of starting date of works);

(b) section 57 (notice of emergency works);

(c) section 60 (general duty of undertakers to co-operate);

(d) section 68 (facilities to be afforded to a street authority);

(e) section 69 (works likely to affect other apparatus in the street);

(f) section 76 (liability for cost of temporary traffic regulations);

(g) section 77 (liability for cost of use of alternative route); and

(h) all provisions of that Act that apply for the purposes of the provisions referred to in sub-paragraphs (a) to (g) .

(3) Section 55 of the 1991 Act as applied by paragraph (2) has effect as if references in section 57 of that Act to emergency works included a reference to a closure, alteration of diversion (as the case may be) required in a case of emergency.

Section 10 Construction and maintenance of new or altered highway

(1) Any highway to be constructed under this Order must be completed to the reasonable satisfaction of the relevant highway authority and, unless otherwise agreed in writing with the highway authority, the highway including any culverts or other structures laid under it must be maintained by and at the expense of the relevant highway authority from its completion.

(2) Where a highway is altered or diverted under this Order, the altered or diverted part of the highway must be completed to the reasonable satisfaction of the relevant highway authority and, unless otherwise agreed in writing with the relevant highway authority, that part of the highway including any culverts or other structures laid under it must be maintained by and at the expense of the relevant highway authority from its completion.

(3) In this article “ relevant highway authority ” means the highway authority in which the highway that is constructed, altered or diverted is situated.

Section 11 Temporary closure of public rights of way

(1) The undertaker may, in connection with the carrying out of the authorised development, temporarily close each of the public rights of way specified in column (1) of Part 2 (public rights of way to be temporarily closed or restricted) of Schedule 3 (traffic regulation) to the extent specified in column (2), by reference to the letters shown on the temporary closure of public rights of way plan.

(2) The public rights of way specified in Part 2 (public rights of way to be temporarily closed or restricted) of Schedule 3 may not be temporarily closed under this article unless a diversion for the closed section of that public right of way, is first provided by the undertaker to the standard defined in the public access management plan forming part of the code of construction practice to be approved in accordance with the requirements, to the reasonable satisfaction of the highway authority.

(3) The relevant diversion route provided under paragraph (2) will be subsequently maintained by the undertaker until the re-opening of the relevant right of way specified in paragraph (1) .

(4) 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.

Section 12 Temporary restriction of use of streets

(1) The undertaker, during and for the purposes of constructing or maintaining the authorised development, may temporarily close, restrict, alter or divert any street and may for any reasonable time—

(a) divert the traffic or a class of traffic from the street;

(b) authorise the use of motor vehicles on classes of highway where, notwithstanding the provisions of this article, there is otherwise no public right to use motor vehicles; and

(c) subject to paragraph (3) , prevent all persons from passing along the street.

(2) Without limiting paragraph (1) , the undertaker may use any street temporarily closed under the powers conferred by this article within the Order limits as a temporary working site.

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

(4) Without limiting paragraph (1), the undertaker may temporarily close, restrict, alter or divert the streets specified in Schedule 3 (streets to be temporarily closed or restricted) to the extent specified in column (2), by reference to the numbers shown on the street works and access to works plan.

(5) The undertaker must not temporarily close, restrict, alter, divert or use as a temporary working site—

(a) any street referred to in paragraph (4) without first consulting the street authority; and

(b) any other street without the consent of the street authority, which may attach reasonable conditions to the consent.

(6) 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.

(7) If a street authority fails to notify the undertaker of its decision within 56 days of receiving an application for consent under paragraph (6) , that street authority is deemed to have granted consent.

Section 13 Access to works

(1) The undertaker may, for the purposes of the authorised development—

(a) form, lay out and maintain a means of access, or improve or maintain an existing means of access, in the locations specified in columns (1) and (2) of Schedule 4 (access to works); and

(b) with the approval of the relevant planning authority after consultation with the highway authority in accordance with requirement 10 (permanent highway accesses), 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.

(2) If the relevant planning authority fails to notify the undertaker of its decision within 56 days of receiving an application for approval under paragraph (1)(b) that relevant planning authority is deemed to have been granted.

Section 14 Traffic regulation

(1) Subject to the provisions of this article, the undertaker may, in so far as may be expedient or necessary for the purposes of or in connection with, or in consequence of, the construction of the authorised development, temporarily—

(a) permit, prohibit or restrict the stopping, parking, waiting, loading or unloading of vehicles on any road;

(b) make provision as to the direction or priority of vehicular traffic on any road;

(c) place traffic signs and signals in the extents of the road specified in column (2) of Part 1 (streets to be temporarily closed or restricted), column (2) of Part 2 (public rights of way to be temporarily close or restricted) and column (3) of Part 3 (speed limits) of Schedule 3 (traffic regulation), and 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 .

(2) The undertaker must notify the chief officer of police and the traffic authority in whose area the road is situated of the intended date of commencement of development under this Order and the intended date of commencement of any works where the exception set out in paragraph (1) will apply not less than 14 days before such work are commenced.

(3) On and after the date notified by the undertaker in accordance with paragraph (4) no person is to drive any motor vehicle at a speed exceeding the limit specified in column (3) of Part 3 (speed limits) of Schedule 3 along the lengths of road identified in the corresponding row of column (2) of that Part. 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 in accordance with regulation 3(5) of those regulations.

(4) The undertaker must notify the chief officer of police and the traffic authority in whose area the road is situated of the date upon which paragraph (3) takes effect not less than 14 days before that date.

(5) Before exercising the power conferred by paragraph (1) the undertaker must—

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

(b) obtain the written consent of the traffic authority in whose area the road concerned is situated; and

(c) consult such persons as it considers necessary and appropriate and must take into consideration any representations made to it by any such person.

(6) Without limitation on the scope of paragraph (1), and subject to the provisions of this article, and the consent of the traffic authority in whose area the road concerned is situated, which consent must not be unreasonably withheld, the undertaker may, for the purposes of the authorised development revoke, amend or suspend in whole or in part any order not listed in Schedule 4 (access to works) made, or having effect as if made, under the 1984 Act, either at all times or at times, on days or during such periods as may be specified by the undertaker.

(7) The power conferred by paragraph (6) may be exercised at any time prior to the expiry of 12 months from the commencement of operation of the authorised development but subject to paragraph (9) any prohibition, restriction or other provision made under this article may have effect both before and after the expiry of that period.

(8) The undertaker must consult the chief officer of police and the traffic authority in whose area the road is situated before complying with the provisions of paragraph (9) .

(9) Unless otherwise stated, the undertaker must not exercise the powers conferred by this article unless it has—

(a) given to the chief officer of police and to the traffic authority in whose area the road is situated not less than—

(i) 12 weeks’ notice in writing of its intention so to do in the case of a prohibition, restriction or other provision intended to have effect permanently; or

(ii) 4 weeks’ notice in writing of its intention so to do in the case of a prohibition, restriction or other provision intended to have effect temporarily, and

(b) advertised its intention in such manner as the traffic authority may specify in writing within 28 days of its receipt of notice of the undertaker’s intention in the case of sub-paragraph (a)(i) , or within 7 days of its receipt of notice of the undertaker’s intention in the case of sub-paragraph (a)(ii) .

(10) Any prohibition, restriction or other provision made by the undertaker under this article—

(a) has effect as if duly made by, as the case may be—

(i) the traffic authority in whose area the road is situated, as a traffic regulation order under the 1984 Act; or

(ii) the local authority in whose area the road is situated, as an order under section 32 (power of local authorities to provide parking places) of the 1984 Act,

and the instrument by which it is effected may specify specific savings and exemptions to which the prohibition, restriction or other provision is subject; and

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

(11) Any prohibition, restriction or other provision made under this article may be suspended, varied or revoked by the undertaker from time to time by subsequent exercise of the powers conferred by this article within a period of 24 months from the commencement of operation of the authorised development.

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

(13) The powers conferred on the undertaker by this article with respect to any road have effect subject to any agreement entered into by the undertaker with any person with an interest in (or who undertakes activities in relation to) premises served by the road.

(14) Save for any application made to National Highways, if the traffic authority fails to notify the undertaker of its decision within 56 days of receiving an application for consent under this article, the traffic authority is deemed to have granted consent.

Section 15 Agreements with street authorities

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

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

(b) the carrying out in the street of any works referred to in article 8 (street works).

(2) Such 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) include an agreement between the undertaker and street authority specifying 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 16 Power to alter layout etc. of streets

(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3) , the undertaker may, in so far as may be expedient or necessary for the purposes of or in connection with 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 the street including any kerb, footway, cycle track or verge; and

(b) make and maintain passing place(s).

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

(3) The powers conferred by paragraph (1) must not be exercised without the consent of the street authority.

(4) Paragraphs (2) and (3) do not apply where the undertaker is the street authority for a street in which the works are being carried out.

Section 17 Discharge of water

(1) Subject to paragraphs (3) and (4) below, the undertaker may use any watercourse or any public sewer or drain for the drainage of water in connection with the carrying out or maintenance of the authorised development and for that purpose may inspect, 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 pursuant to paragraph (1) is determined as if it were a dispute under section 106 of the Water Industry Act 1991 (right to communicate with public sewers).

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

(4) The undertaker must not carry out any works to any public sewer or drain pursuant to paragraph (1) except—

(a) in accordance with plans approved by the person to whom the sewer or drain belongs, but such approval must not be unreasonably withheld; and

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

(5) The undertaker must not, in carrying out or maintaining works pursuant to this article damage or interfere with the beds or banks of, or construct any works in, under, over or within 8 metres of, any watercourse forming part of a main river as defined under section 113(1) of the Water Resources Act 1991, or within 16 metres of a tidally influenced main river without the prior written consent of the Environment Agency.

(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 any water discharge or groundwater activity for which an environmental permit is required by regulation 12 (requirement for an environmental permit) of the 2016 Regulations.

(8) In this article—

(a) “ public sewer or drain ” means a sewer or drain which either belongs to a sewerage undertaker, the Environment Agency, an internal drainage board or a local authority; and

(b) other expressions, excluding watercourse, used both in this article and in the 2016 Regulations have the same meaning as in those Regulations.

(9) If a person who receives an application for consent or approval fails to notify the undertaker of a decision within 28 days of receiving an application for consent under paragraph (3) or approval under paragraph (4)(a) that person is deemed to have granted consent or given approval, as the case may be.

Section 18 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 which may be affected by the authorised development as the undertaker considers necessary or expedient.

(2) Protective works may be carried out—

(a) at any time before or during the carrying out 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 day on which that part of the authorised development is commissioned.

(3) For the purposes 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 purposes 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 that 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 power under paragraph (1) to carry out protective works to a building;

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

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

(d) a power 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 the power and, in a case falling within sub-paragraph (a) or (c) , 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 of 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 41 (arbitration).

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

(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 day on which the part of the authorised development carried out in the vicinity of the building is commissioned it appears that the protective works are inadequate to protect the building against damage caused by the carrying out 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 152 of the 2008 Act (compensation in case where no right to claim nuisance).

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

(11) 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 that 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) 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 that may be caused to the building by the carrying out, maintenance or use of the authorised development; and

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

Section 19 Authority to survey and investigate the land onshore

(1) The undertaker may for the purposes of this Order enter on any land shown within the Order limits or any land which may be affected by the authorised development and—

(a) survey or investigate the land;

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

(c) without prejudice to the generality of sub-paragraph (a) , carry out ecological or archaeological investigations on such land, including the digging of trenches; and

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

(4) No trial holes, bore holes or trenches may 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,

but such consent must not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.

(5) Following completion of any activities being undertaken pursuant to this article the undertaker must remove all apparatus placed on the land in connection with such activities as soon as practicable, and the land must be restored to its original condition.

(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) If either a highway authority or a street authority which receives an application for consent fails to notify the undertaker of its decision within 28 days of receiving the application for consent—

(a) under paragraph (4)(a) in the case of a highway authority; or

(b) under paragraph (4)(b) in the case of a street authority;

that authority is deemed to have granted consent.

(8) Section 13 (refusal to give possession to acquiring authority) of the 1965 Act applies to the entry onto, 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 20 Compulsory acquisition of land

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

(2) This article is subject to article 22 (time limit for exercise of authority to acquire land compulsorily), article 23(2) (compulsory acquisition of rights etc.), article 27 (acquisition of subsoil only), article 29 (rights under or over streets), article 30 (temporary use of land for carrying out the authorised development), article 31 (temporary use of land for maintaining the authorised development), (article 45 (Crown rights) and article 46 and Schedule 14 (protective provisions).

Section 21 Compulsory acquisition of land: minerals

Parts 2 and 3 of Schedule 2 (minerals) to the Acquisition of Land Act 1981 are incorporated in this Order, subject to the following modifications—

(a) paragraph 8(3) is not incorporated;

(b) for “acquiring authority” substitute “undertaker” ; and

(c) for “undertaking” substitute “authorised development” .

Section 22 Time limit for exercise of authority to acquire land compulsorily

(1) The applicable period for the purposes of section 4 of the 1965 Act (time limit for giving notice to treat) and section 5A of the 1981 Act (time limit for general vesting declaration) is seven years beginning on the day on which this Order is made.

(2) No notice to treat is to be served under Part 1 (compulsory purchase under the Acquisition of Land Act of 1946) of the 1965 Act and no declaration is to be executed under section 4 (execution of declaration) of the 1981 Act as applied by article 25 (application of the 1981 Act) after the end of the applicable period in relation to any part of the Order land, including any extension to the applicable period pursuant to those Acts.

(3) The authority conferred by article 30 (temporary use of land for carrying out the authorised development) must not be used after the end of the applicable period referred to in paragraph (1) , save that if an application is made under section 118 of the 2008 Act (legal challenges relating to applications for orders granting development consent) the applicable period is to be extended by—

(a) a period equivalent to the period beginning on the day the application is made and ending on the day it is withdrawn or finally determined; or

(b) if shorter, one year.

(4) An application is not finally determined for the purposes of paragraph (3)(a) if an appeal in respect of the application—

(a) could be brought (ignoring any possibility of an appeal out of time with permission); or

(b) has been made and not withdrawn or finally determined.

(5) Nothing in paragraph (3) 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 23 Compulsory acquisition of rights etc.

(1) Subject to paragraph (2) , the undertaker may acquire compulsorily such rights over the Order land or impose such restrictive covenants affecting the Order land as may be required for any purpose for which that land may be acquired under article 20 (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 35 (private rights) and article 43 (statutory undertakers), in the case of the Order land specified in column (1) of Schedule 5 (land in which only new rights etc., may be acquired) the undertaker’s powers of compulsory acquisition are limited to the acquisition of existing rights over land and the creation and acquisition of the 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) of the 1965 Act, and Schedule 2A (counter-notice requiring purchase of land not in notice to treat) as substituted by paragraph 5(8) of Schedule 6 (modification of compensation and compulsory purchase enactments for creation of new rights), where the undertaker creates a new interest or acquires an existing right over land or imposes a restrictive covenant under paragraph (1) or (2) , the undertaker is not required to acquire a greater interest in that land.

(4) Schedule 6 (modification of compensation and compulsory purchase enactments for creation of new rights) 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 creation of a new right or the imposition of a restrictive covenant.

(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 and impose such restrictions 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) Subject to the modifications set out in Schedule 6 the enactments for the time being in force with respect to compensation for the compulsory purchase of land are to apply in the case of a compulsory acquisition under this Order in respect of a right by the creation of a new right or imposition of a restriction as they apply to the compulsory purchase of land and interests in land.

(8) Subject to article 45 (Crown rights), so much of the special category land as is required for the purposes of exercising the powers acquired by the undertaker pursuant to this article is discharged from all rights, trusts and incidents to which it was previously subject, so far as their continuance would be inconsistent with the exercise of those rights.

Section 24 Private rights

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

(a) as from the date of acquisition of the land by the undertaker, whether 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) of the 1965 Act (power of entry),

whichever is earliest.

(2) Subject to the provisions of this article, all private rights and restrictions over land subject to compulsory acquisition of rights or the imposition of restrictions under this Order are extinguished in so far as their continuance would be inconsistent with the exercise of the right or compliance with the restriction—

(a) as from the date of the acquisition of the right or the imposition of the restriction 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) of the 1965 Act (powers of entry) in pursuance of the right,

whichever is the earliest.

(3) Subject to the provisions of this article, all private rights or restrictions 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) Subject to the provisions of this article, all private rights over any part of the Order land that is owned by, vested in or acquired by the undertaker are extinguished on commencement of any activity authorised by this Order which interferes with or breaches those rights and where the undertaker gives notice of such extinguishment.

(5) Any person who suffers loss by the extinguishment or suspension of any private right or restriction under this article is entitled to compensation in accordance with the terms of section 152 of the 2008 Act, to be determined, in case of dispute, under Part 1 of the 1961 Act (determination of questions of disputed compensation).

(6) This article does not apply in relation to any right to which section 138 of the 2008 Act (extinguishment of right, and removal of apparatus, of statutory undertakers etc.) or article 32 (statutory undertakers) applies.

(7) 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 restrictions 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 or restriction specified in the notice; or

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

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

(a) is made with a person in or to whom the right or restriction is vested, belongs or benefits; 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 the title was derived before or after the making of the agreement.

(9) Reference in this article to private rights over land includes reference to any trusts or incidents to which the land is subject.

Section 25 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 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 any 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) 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)” substitute “section 118 of the Planning Act 2008 (legal challenges relating to applications for orders granting development consent)” ;”

(6) In section 6 (notices after execution 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” .

(7) 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)”.

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

(2) But see article 27(1) (acquisition of subsoil only) of the North Falls Offshore Wind Farm Order 2026, which excludes the acquisition of subsoil only from this Schedule.

(9) 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 (as modified by article 28 (modification of Part 1 of the 1965 Act) to the compulsory acquisition of land under this Order.

Section 26 Statutory authority to override easements and other rights

(1) The carrying out or use of the authorised development and the doing of anything else authorised by the Order is authorised for the purpose specified in section 158(2) (nuisance: statutory authority) of the 2008 Act, 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 use of land arising by virtue of contract.

(2) The undertaker must pay compensation to any person whose land is injuriously affected by—

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

(b) a breach of a restriction as to the use of land arising by virtue of contract,

authorised by virtue of this Order and the operation of section 158 (nuisance: statutory authority) of the 2008 Act.

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

(4) Subsection (2) of section 10 (further provisions as to compensation for injurious affection) of the 1965 Act applies to paragraph (2) by virtue of section 152(5) of the 2008 act (compensation in case where no right to claim in nuisance).

(5) Any rule or principle applied to the construction of section 10 of the 1965 Act must be applied to construction of paragraph (2) (with any necessary modifications).

Section 27 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 20 (compulsory acquisition of land) or article 23 (compulsory acquisition of rights etc.) 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 under paragraph (1) , 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 the subsoil only—

(a) Schedule 2A (counter-notice requiring purchase of land not in notice to treat) of the 1965 Act as modified by Schedule 6 (modification of compensation and compulsory purchase enactments for creation of new rights);

(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 28 Modification of Part 1 of the 1965 Act

(1) Part 1 (compulsory purchase under Acquisition of Land Act of 1946) of the 1965 Act, 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)” substitute, “section 118 of the Planning Act 2008 (legal challenges relating to applications for orders granting development consent)” .

(3) In Section 11A (powers of entry: further notices 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 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 27(3) (acquisition of subsoil only) of the North Falls Offshore Wind Farm Order 2026, which excludes the acquisition of subsoil only from this Schedule.

(b) at the end insert—

(30) In this Schedule, references to entering on and taking possession of land do not include doing so under article 18 (protective works to buildings), article 19 (authority to survey and investigate the land onshore), article 30 (temporary use of land for carrying out the authorised development) or article 31 (temporary use of land for maintaining the authorised development) of the North Falls Offshore Wind Farm Order 2026.

Section 29 Rights under or over streets

(1) The undertaker may enter on and appropriate so much of the subsoil of or air-space over any street within the Order limits as may be required for the purposes of the authorised development and may use the subsoil or air-space 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 30 Temporary use of land for carrying out the authorised development

(1) The undertaker may, in connection with the carrying out of the authorised development, but subject to article 22 (time limit for exercise of authority to acquire land compulsorily)—

(a) enter on or take temporary possession of—

(i) the land specified in columns (1) of Schedule 7 (land of which temporary possession may be taken) for the purpose specified in relation to that land in column (2) of that Schedule relating to the part of the authorised development specified in column (3) of that Schedule; and

(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 (other than in connection with the acquisition of rights only) 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 the land;

(c) construct temporary works (including the provision of means of access and footpaths), haul roads, security fencing, bridges, services, signage, structures and buildings on that land;

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

(e) construct any works, or use the land, as specified in relation to that land in column (3) of Schedule 7 (land of which temporary possession may be taken), or any mitigation works in connection with the authorised development;

(f) construct such works on that land as are mentioned in Part 1 of Schedule 1 (authorised development); and

(g) carry out mitigation works required pursuant to the requirements in Part 3 of Schedule 1 (requirements).

(2) 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 and explain the purpose for which entry is taken in respect of land specified under paragraph (1)(a)(ii)

(3) The undertaker must not remain in possession of the land under this article for longer than is reasonably necessary and in any event, without the agreement of the owners of the land, remain in possession of any land under this article—

(a) in the case of land specified in paragraph (1)(a)(i) after the end of the period of one year beginning with the date of completion of the part of the authorised development specified in relation to that land in column (3) of Schedule 7; or

(b) in the case of land specified in paragraph (1)(a)(ii) after the end of the period of one year beginning with the date of completion 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.

(4) Unless the undertaker has served a 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 or otherwise agreed with the owners of the land, 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 2 (streets and public rights of way subject to street works) or any new footpath surface or other enhancements carried out under this article to any footpath or any improvements carried out under this article to any bridge;

(d) remove any fencing or boundary treatments installed by the undertaker under this article to replace or enhance existing fencing or boundary treatments; or

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

(5) 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.

(6) Any dispute as to a person’s entitlement to compensation under paragraph (5) , or as to the amount of compensation, must be determined under Part 1 (determination of questions of disputed compensation) of the 1961 Act.

(7) Nothing in this article affects any liability to pay compensation under section 152 of the 2008 Act (compensation in case where no right to claim in nuisance) or under any other enactment in respect of loss or damage arising from the carrying out of the authorised development, other than loss or damage for which compensation is payable under paragraph (5) .

(8) The undertaker may not compulsorily acquire under this article the land referred to in paragraph (1)(a)(i) except that the undertaker is not precluded from—

(a) acquiring new rights or imposing restrictive covenants over any part of the land listed under article 23 (compulsory acquisition of rights etc.) to the extent that such land is listed in column (1) of Schedule 5 (land in which only new rights etc., may be acquired); or

(b) acquiring any part of the subsoil (or rights in the subsoil) of that land under article 27 (acquisition of subsoil only).

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

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

(11) Nothing in this article prevents the taking of temporary possession more than once in relation to any land specified in Schedule 7.

(12) Subject to article 45 (Crown rights), so much of the special category land as is required for the purposes of exercising the powers pursuant to this article is temporarily discharged from all rights, trusts and incidents to which it was previously subject, so far as their continuance would be inconstant with the exercise of those powers, and only for such time as any special category land is being used under this article.

Section 31 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 or take temporary possession of any of the Order land if such possession is reasonably required for the purpose of maintaining the authorised development;

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

(11) In this article “ the maintenance period ”, in relation to any part of the authorised development means the period of five years beginning with the date on which the authorised development is brought into commercial operation.

(12) So much of the special category land as if required for the purposes or exercising the powers pursuant to this article is temporarily discharged from all rights, trusts and incidents to which it was previously subject, so far as their continuance would be inconsistent with the exercise of those powers, and only for such time as any special category land is being used under this article.

Section 32 Statutory undertakers

Subject to the provisions of Schedule 14 (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 plans (onshore) within the Order land and described in the book of reference; and

(b) extinguish or suspend the rights of, or restrictions for the benefit of, or remove, relocate or reposition the apparatus belonging to statutory undertakers over or within the Order land.

Section 33 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 32 (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 supply is given.

(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply in the case of removal of a public sewer but where such a sewer is removed under article 32 (statutory undertakers), any person who is—

(a) the owner or occupier of the 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 sewerage 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 paragraph—

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

“ public utility undertaker ” means a gas, water, electricity or sewerage undertaker.

Section 34 Operation of a generating station

(1) The undertaker is authorised to use and operate the authorised development for which development consent is granted by this Order.

(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 the authorised development.

Section 35 Deemed marine licences under the 2009 Act

The deemed marine licences set out in Schedule 8 (deemed marine licence under the 2009 Act – generation assets), Schedule 9 (deemed marine licence under the 2009 Act – transmission assets) and Schedule 10 (deemed marine licence under the 2009 Act – transmission assets – offshore converter platform) respectively, are deemed to be granted to the undertaker under Part 4 (marine licences) of the 2009 Act for the licenced marine activities set out in Part 1, and subject to the conditions set out in Part 2, of each of those Schedules.

Section 36 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 and 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 least of any obligation of any other party under the lease.

Section 37 Operational land for the purposes of the 1990 Act

Development consent granted by this Order is treated as specific planning permission for the purposes of section 264(3)(a) of the 1990 Act (cases in which land is to be treated as not being operational land).

Section 38 Felling or lopping of trees and removal of hedgerows

(1) Subject to paragraph (3) and article 39 (trees subject to tree preservation orders), the undertaker may fell or lop or cut back the roots of any tree or shrub within or encroaching upon land within the Order limits, if the undertaker reasonably believes it to be necessary to do so to prevent the tree or shrub—

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

(b) from constituting a danger to persons within the authorised development.

(2) Without limitation to the scope of paragraph (1) the undertaker may, for the purpose of the authorised project—

(a) remove the hedgerows specified in Schedule 11, Part 1 (removal of hedgerows) to the extent and for the purpose specified; and

(b) remove the important hedgerows within the Order limits and specified in Schedule 11, Part 2 (removal of important hedgerows) to the extent and for the purpose specified.

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

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

(b) pay compensation to any person for any loss or damage arising from such activity.

(4) Any dispute as to a person’s entitlement to compensation under paragraph (3) , or as to the amount of compensation, must be determined under Part 1 (determination of questions of disputed compensation) of the 1961 Act.

(5) In this article “ hedgerow ” and “ important hedgerow ” have the same meaning as in the Hedgerow Regulations 1997 .

Section 39 Trees subject to tree preservation orders

(1) The undertaker may fell or lop or cut back the roots of any tree within or overhanging land within the Order limits subject to a tree preservation order, if it reasonably believes it to be necessary to do so in order to prevent the tree from obstructing or interfering with construction, maintenance or operation 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, will be determined under Part 1 (determination of questions of disputed compensation) of the 1961 Act.

(5) In this article, “ tree preservation order ” has the same meaning as in section 198 (power to make tree preservation orders) of the 1990 Act.

Section 40 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 of the documents listed in Schedule 12 (documents 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.

(3) Where a plan or document certified under paragraph (1) —

(a) refers to a provision of this Order (including any specified requirement) when it was in draft form; and

(b) identifies that provision by number, or combination of numbers and letters, which is different from the number, or combination of numbers and letters by which the corresponding provision of this Order is identified in this Order as made,

the reference in the plan or document concerned must be construed for the purpose of this Order as referring to the provision (if any) corresponding to that provision in this Order as made.

Section 41 Arbitration

(1) Subject to article 44 (saving provisions for Trinity House), any difference under any provision of this Order, unless otherwise provided for, must be referred to and settled in arbitration in accordance with the rules at Schedule 13 (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) For the avoidance of doubt, any matter for which the consent or approval of the Secretary of State or the Marine Management Organisation is required under any provision of this Order will not be subject to arbitration.

Section 42 Requirements, appeals, etc.

Part 4 of Schedule 1 (procedure for discharge of requirements) has effect.

Section 43 Abatement of works abandoned or decayed

Where any of the offshore works or all of them or any part of them, is abandoned or allowed to fall into decay the Secretary of State may, following consultation with the undertaker, issue a written notice requiring the undertaker at its own expense either to repair, make safe and restore one or any of those Works, or any relevant part of them, or to remove them or any relevant part of them and, without prejudice to any notice served under section 105(2) of the 2004 Act, restore the site to a safe and proper condition, to such an extent and within such limits as may be specified in the notice.

Section 44 Saving provisions for Trinity House

Nothing in this Order prejudices or derogates from any of the rights, duties or privileges of Trinity House.

Section 45 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 or any lessee or licensee to take, use, enter upon or in any manner interfere with any land or rights of any description (including any portion of the shore or bed of the sea or any river, channel, creek, bay or estuary)—

(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 His 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 46 Protective provisions

Schedule 14 (protective provisions) has effect.

Section 47 Funding

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

(a) a guarantee and the amount of that guarantee 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 and the amount of that security for that purpose 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 20 (compulsory acquisition of land);

(b) article 23 (compulsory acquisition of rights etc.);

(c) article 24 (private rights);

(d) article 27 (acquisition of subsoil only);

(e) article 29 (rights under or over streets);

(f) article 30 (temporary use of land for carrying out the authorised development);

(g) article 31 (temporary use of land for maintaining the authorised development); and

(h) article 32 (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 48 No double recovery

Compensation is not payable in respect of the same matter both under this Order and under any other enactment, any contract or rule of law, or under two or more different provisions of this Order.

Section 49 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 of the Interpretation Act 1978 (references to service by post) 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 that body corporate, the registered or principal office of that body; and

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

(4) Where for the purposes 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 will 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.

(10) In this article “ legible in all material respects ” means that the information contained in the notice of document is available to that person to no lesser extent than it would be if served, given or supplied by means of a notice or document in printed form.

Section 50 Compensation provisions

Schedule 15 (compensation to protect the coherence of the national site network) has effect.