Large parts of our countryside are intersected by a wide range of utilities, from water, sewerage and gas pipelines to electricity pylons, poles and wires. Utility companies constantly need to adapt by building new infrastructure or repairing and renewing existing systems, and it is imperative that farmers and landowners have the best advice with regard to these schemes.
If a scheme is taking place on or near your land, it is important that you understand both the legal situation and the practical considerations. Schemes may involve compulsory purchase sales, licence and tenancy agreements, new easements and wayleaves. Factors such as timings of the work, access to the site, location of services, the installation of compounds or welfare areas, fencing, drainage, the removal of excess spoil and the final site re-instatement, all need to be considered.
Just some of the schemes currently taking place are:
Haweswater Aqueduct Tunnelling – United Utilities (UU) are set to replace 6 tunnels along the 109km pipeline running through Cumbria, Lancashire and Greater Manchester, with construction set to start in 2023 and take around 10 years to complete.
Alston/Spade Mill to Broughton Pipeline – UU are currently proposing to construct a new mains water pipeline from Alston, Longridge to Broughton, in order to transfer raw water from existing reservoirs into the local network. The route will run mainly through agricultural land between Haighton Green Lane and Whittingham Lane.
Forest of Bowland AONB / Electricity North West Ltd – ENWL and the AONB have been removing poles and wires on their network and re-routing cabling underground in order to reduce the visual impact of such apparatus in the Forest of Bowland.
Canal and Rivers Trust (CRT) – the CRT are currently completing a programme of scheduled culvert maintenance works, for culverts running below the Lancaster and the Leeds/Liverpool canal networks.
Environment Agency – The EA are continually undertaking maintenance and re-profiling works on many of the main rivers in the North West, including the River Wyre, to try to reduce flood risk.
If you have land that may be affected in any way, Armitstead Barnett can act on your behalf in negotiating with the company involved regarding the scheme, including access arrangements, accommodation works, compound areas and compensation. The utility company would usually cover the cost of this representation.